It's a mad world.
32-year-old January Neatherlin pleaded guilty last month to drugging children with melatonin while she left her house to go tanning. She was sentenced to 21 years and four months in prison on Friday.
Neatherlin's ex-boyfriend and a former roommate tipped off police to the neglectful plot, prompting Bend police to investigate the claims. The police set up two surveillance teams, one to watch the house, and one to follow Neatherlin. Once the parents dropped their children off at the daycare, Neatherlin was caught leaving on two occasions.
According to The Oregonian, Neatherlin drove her kids to school the first time she left. The second time, police found her at the Tan Republic. When police entered her house, they found seven unattended children. Melatonin was found in their systems. She is being charged with 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of third-degree assault. Neatherlin was originally indicted on 76 counts of criminal mistreatment in the first degree and 38 counts of recklessly endangering another person. She took a guilty plea in exchange for less time and dropped charges.
Neatherlin has multiple theft and identity theft charges on her record, and police described her as a professional schemer.
Source: people.com