PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla.– Naledi Roberts, 17, babysat for her 16-year-old friend’s daughter.
The child was a 1-year-old female.
While she was watching the child on March 23, Roberts placed a lit marijuana cigarette in the child’s mouth.
She made a video recording of the child smoking.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the video showed Roberts placing the cigarette in the child’s mouth.
In the video, the child inhaled, causing the embers to glow brighter.
Roberts then took the marijuana cigarette out of the child’s mouth and placed it in her own mouth.
The video showed Roberts inhaling the burning marijuana.
PCSO talked to Roberts about allegations of child abuse at a private residence in unincorporated Largo.
At first, she told deputies she smoked marijuana near the child but denied giving the marijuana cigarette to her.
Deputies spoke to Roberts again on March 24. She admitted to placing the cigarette in the child’s mouth.
PCSO said Roberts refused to say why she put the marijuana cigarette in the child’s mouth.
Roberts was arrested and charged with one count of Felony Child Abuse. She was taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
PCSO said it is continuing to investigate this.
According to the Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental Health, children can have lung irritation and asthma attacks if they inhale any smoke that contains marijuana.
Children may also experience bloodshot eyes, increased appetite, dry mouth, and decreased coordination from marijuana. The impact of marijuana can last 24-36 hours in children.
H/T: nbc-2.com
