Mother Arrested After Child Brings Packets of Heroin to Day Care, Mistaking it for Candy

A woman has been arrested on serious drug charges after her 4-year-old brought hundreds of packets of heroin to day care center and passed them out among her classmates, mistaking it for candy.

The child reportedly brought 249 packets of heroin to day care center, which would be enough for felony possession and trafficking charges. The child’s mother was arrested for maintaining a drug property and three counts of child endangerment.

“None of the packets were opened by any of the kids,” Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said in an official statement on Monday night. Several of the children were taken to local hospitals as a precaution, but none were harmed by the heroin in any way.

Police and medical responders were called to the day care center on Monday around 11:45 AM after teachers there noticed the children with small packets of white powder. The teachers immediately took the bags away from the children, according to the police report. Police took the packets to test for drugs, and discovered that the bags contained heroin.

Tull was released on $6,000 bail on Monday evening. Fournier declined to say who the heroin actually belonged to, stating that the investigation was still underway. The girl who distributed the heroin by accident reportedly took a different backpack to school after the family dog destroyed hers overnight. When the girl found the heroin in the backpack, she thought “the packets were candy, [and] she began passing them out to her classmates.”

“I think they handled it appropriately and reported the situation immediately to police,” Fournier said of the day care center, noting that the facility was not at fault per the investigation.

Drug Trafficking Charges in South Carolina: Cocaine, Marijuana, Heroin

Federal drug charges and state drug charges in South Carolina carry some of the stiffest penalties in the nation. When faced with a drug charge, you need a lawyer who knows how the system works and will fight to protect your rights. Drug cases in particular need to be examined from every angle, in many cases are subject to mandatory minimum sentences, and aggressive representation can protect your future.

Defendants facing drug penalties in South Carolina can be punished with a monetary fine and mandatory minimum sentences of up to life in prison with no chance of parole, depending on:

• the amount of drugs involved
• whether the case is brought in state or federal district court, and
• how many prior drug offenses a defendant has.

Trafficking charges are based upon the weight of the drug you are in possession of:

• Ten grams of cocaine
• Four grams of heroin
• Ten pounds of marijuana
• Additional drug penalties include:
• Asset forfeiture
• Impounding of your car
• Seizure of your home or property if drugs were found on the premises
• Seizure of cash
• Loss of business or professional licenses
• Restrictions on owning guns or firearms

Penalties for drug trafficking can include a minimum sentencing of 25 years. Trafficking and distribution offenses are considered violent, no-parole offenses and a conviction can certainly have you serving the full time you are sentenced to.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Drug Charges, Including Heroin Trafficking and Gun Charges

The marijuana, heroin, drug, an gun charges attorneys at Strom Law Firm, LLC will aggressively defend your case, whether you are under investigation or have been arrested for marijuana or gun charges in all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina as well as the Federal Courts in Georgia. Drug charges need to be examined from every angle, and in many cases are subject to mandatory minimum sentences. If you have been charged with possession, trafficking, or manufacturing drugs, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today by calling (803)252-4800.