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6 months ago
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An Idaho couple was arrested after authorities discovered a toddler had easy access to drugs in their home.
The discovery and subsequent arrest came after police were called to address a report that a woman had delivered a 15-week-old fetus on her toilet.
Kaili McKenna Johnson and Christopher Roy Mitchell were later charged with combined felonies relating to the injury of a child, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and a misdemeanor related to the possession or use of drug paraphernalia.
Police reports suggest that a Bingham County Sheriff's detective was called to a home to respond to the medical emergency only to learn that Johnson had been taken to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in an ambulance.
Kaili McKenna Johnson was arrested in Idaho on a number of charges related to child endangerment and drug possession - she attempted to flee authorities from the hospital where she was being treated for giving birth prematurely to a fetus she delivered on her toilet
Christopher Roy Mitchell was also arrested for a spate of similar charges to Johnson's. After she had been taken to the hospital, he was found at the apartment filled with drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a toddler
In the home at the time of the incident was Johnson's 18-month-old son and an unidentified friend.
Authorities noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the home and in their report, noted seeing a joint on the kitchen table.
Mitchell returned to the scene and allowed officials to search the property. He also handed the detective a plastic jar containing marijuana, which he confirmed as such.
Detectives later reported finding a 'large amount of paraphernalia ... a large amount of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, pills, and suspected marijuana plants' in the apartment.
Prescription records show most of the pills were obtained sans doctor's note.
Then, after a welfare check was requested by hospital staff, detectives learned that Johnson and Mitchell had 'fled the hospital.'
At the time, Johnson was just out of surgery and reportedly still had IVs attached to her.
The county prosecutor said his office is unable to release the status of the premature fetus due to a legal limitation on what information the public is allowed to receive in a case like this one.
Police report finding 'drugs in the open throughout every single room' of the small apartment.
There was a play area for the 18-month-old in the bedroom with toys strewn about the area. In that area, detectives say loose marijuana, methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia were 'surrounding' the designated play space.
The hospital from which Johnson attempted to flee after surgery for the early birth of a fetus she delivered over her toilet as authorities pursued her for drug charges
Detectives further detailed the use of a plastic tray from an infant's high chair as a plate on which to 'separate and prepare marijuana for consumption.'
According to a local outlet, Johnson and Mitchell were also arrested in Bonneville County in late February on charges that are separate from this case.
The charges at that time were also related to the possession and use of drugs.
Mitchell was also charged with a number of infractions for failing to register a vehicle he was driving, as well as other safety violations.
The pair were booked into the Bonneville County Jail. While they were in there, two more warrants were served from neighboring Bingham County.
The Bingham cases are not scheduled to proceed until the Bonneville ones have been resolved.
Johnson, if convicted, could be looking at life in prison, while Mitchell may be facing up to 19 years.
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