Monday, January 24, 2011

Mother Admits Guilt for Daughter's Meth Mouth in exchange for Plea Deal

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/01/24/news/local/doc4d3a6a529e499575338230.txt

LA PORTE — A woman admitted Friday to her role in a La Porte meth lab whose toxic vapors caused her 6-year-old daughter’s teeth to rot.

Under a guilty plea, Debra Benedict would receive a six-year prison sentence followed by five years on work release and four years on probation for Class B felony dealing methamphetamine and Class D felony neglect of a dependent.

La Porte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos took the plea under advisement. If he accepts it, Benedict’s sentencing is scheduled for April 15.

The girl’s father, Phillip Dalton, 46, on Jan. 7 received the same sentence.


Alevizos nearly rejected Benedict’s plea when she denied blame for her daughter’s teeth rotting due to the toxic chemicals used in the production of meth at the home.

“I kept my children away from that as much as possible,” Benedict said.

Alevizos angrily responded, “So, you have no idea how the girl was exposed to this? How did your daughter have all of her teeth out?”

After being questioned further by the judge and counseled by her attorney, Barbara Transki, the woman accepted blame.

“I know what I did was wrong. I did wrong by my children. Yes, I did,” Benedict said.

In November 2009, police responded to a domestic violence call at 504 Brighton St. and uncovered a meth lab.


The girl’s three teenage siblings also lived there, but the effects of meth exposure were more extreme in the girl, who during an examination at La Porte Hospital was diagnosed with “meth mouth,” a condition marked by sores and rotting teeth, according to court documents.

Officers shining flashlights into the home reported seeing a haze and felt the effects of the toxic fog. According to investigators, several batches of meth were cooked daily.

The children were placed with relatives in Knox, authorities said.

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I believe the only reason this woman accepted the blame is because the judge was about to throw out her plea deal.  Only after the judge becoming angry and her lawyer speaking to her did she admit blame.  I hope they still throw it out.

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