A 43-year-old Hammon woman was charged with one count of child neglect in the Beckham County District Court on June 19.
The investigation began on June 16 at approximately 10:05 am when an Elk City Police Department detective was requested for a joint response by the Department of Human Services.
The detective went to Great Plains Regional Medical Center after a mother allegedly tested positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines in her system after childbirth.
“The Department of Human Services has been contacted and involved in nine previous childbirths in Vina Bissonette with newborns suffering the same pattern of narcotic complications,” the detective wrote.
Bissonette reportedly told the detective that she had been smoking an “8 ball,” approximately 3.5 grams, daily until she found out she was pregnant in her fifth month.
“She said after finding out, she did not use as much and cut down to half a gram daily until Wednesday the 14th, 2023, the day before giving birth,” the detective added.
Bissonette allegedly told the detective she had never used contraceptives and “has no reason why.”
“She stated she was aware she and her newborn had narcotics in their system but was preparing to put the child up for adoption and was unaware she could be criminally charged,” the detective stated.
Bissonette is being held in the Beckham County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.
