Silver Lake Woman Sentenced For Giving Birth To Baby Positive For Meth, Opiates
WARSAW — Cheyenne P. Miller, Silver Lake, was sentenced for neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury this morning, Sept. 25, in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.
Miller first discovered she was pregnant on Jan. 6, when she was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. On Feb. 19, Miller was diagnosed with a displaced placenta and the baby was delivered cesarean at 25 weeks at a hospital in Fort Wayne. The baby girl and Miller both tested positive for methamphetamine and opiates.
Miller was originally arrested for a level 3 felony but was sentenced with a level 5 felony per a plea agreement. She received three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections — receiving credit for the 207 days served up to this point — with purposeful incarceration and $50 for child abuse prevention.
While the defense sought for Miller to return to her probation, Judge Reed denied the request stating he “can’t overlook the second chance she was given with the freedom to seek treatment.” As a result he concluded, her need to have sobriety forced by required treatments, affecting her sentencing.
Reed sternly told Miller her sentence may be modified should she behave in jail as well as participate in her recovery programs. Miller immediately asked her attorney upon dismissal of the proceedings how long the recovery programs would last.
As a result of her sentencing for neglect of a dependent, Miller violated terms of probation she was serving when the neglect was discovered and will resume serving a second sentence of a year for violating her parole.
Child Protective Services took custody of the child prior to the sentencing due to the positive drug test.