Posted on 02/23/2008 9:14:22 AM PST by Hat-Trick
Child tells Omaha police how she used marijuana
BY TODD COOPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
The girl sat down, told investigators she smokes pot and, using a pen, demonstrated how she does it — just like her mom.
The girl is 4.
Now, her mother, Lisa Schuchard, 25, is facing a felony child abuse charge — and a hearing on her parental rights — on allegations that she taught, and encouraged, her daughter to smoke marijuana.
Schuchard has pleaded not guilty and is in the Douglas County Jail. Her attorney, Douglas County Assistant Public Defender Doug Johnson, said he couldn't comment because he hasn't had a chance to speak with Schuchard in depth.
According to police and court reports:
Someone called Child Protective Services to complain that Schuchard's 4-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy were filthy dirty and that drug paraphernalia was strewn about Schuchard's home near 34th and Hamilton Streets. The caller also complained that the kids were forced to sleep a lot — and that Schuchard and her live-in boyfriend, Christopher Gladden, were "always sleeping."
On Feb. 12, Omaha police went to the home and found the children within reach of drug paraphernalia.
They also found a large bruise on the 4-year-old's right cheek and several bruises on her buttocks and upper legs.
The girl told police that Gladden hit her repeatedly with a belt — and slammed a door in her face, causing the knob to bruise her cheek.
The 4-year-old then gave this account of the marijuana use to detectives, according to police and court reports:
She described Schuchard and Gladden, 23, smoking "joints."
The 4-year-old said joints are brown and have green "weed" inside. She said weed also can be smoked from a bong and a pipe.
The 4-year-old then "demonstrated (very well) how she smokes from a 'joint,' 'bong' and 'pipe' during the interview," an Omaha police detective wrote. "She said that her mother and Chris give both her and her brother the weed to smoke.
"(She) said that she smokes in front of her mom and Chris' friends and that they laugh when she smokes."
Police have no evidence the 2-year-old boy actually used marijuana, but both he and his sister have been placed in foster care.
Authorities have scheduled a medical exam in which they plan to test the girl's hair follicles for the presence of marijuana.
An initial hearing on the mother's parental rights is next week.
Before the girl told of her marijuana use, Schuchard and Gladden had been charged with misdemeanor child abuse.
Gladden immediately pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts — and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Deputy Douglas County Attorney Steve Gabrial said prosecutors cannot increase his charges to felonies because it would constitute double jeopardy.
However, Shuchard now is charged with a felony. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison.
Gabrial, who has specialized in child abuse prosecutions for the past five years, said he has seen cases of children ingesting their parents' drugs — typically, their pills.
But rarely on purpose, he said, and never this young.
Read the description by FReeper myprecious
I saw this repeatedly in Jamaica...it’s part of being a rasta...kid.
I am surprised the PC gestapo hasn’t stepped in to defend the “mom” - she’s probably not a rasta...but maybe in training perhaps?
Yup, that story about the video game playing couple was really sad...was hard to sleep that night after reading about that :-(
You said that story kept you from sleeping. I know what you mean. After reading that terribly sad story about how that todler died, the only way I could get it off of my mind was to “get prayed up”. That is, I had to ask God to help me not dwell on it, and ask to be shown what I can do to help.
Good luck on your getting past this. We need a fair and swift Justice System. We need a swift death penalty for murder. And this country needs to abolish abortion completely. This is the slippery slop that pro-lifers have been warning the country about — the worth of a child’s life has been devalued by abortion.
I know many parents that have given their young children alcohol as well, so I guess we should outlaw alcohol and anyone who drinks alcohol is likely to abuse their kids /sarcasm.
Wow, Doctor!!! I didn't know that the spinal tap and brain scan info had been thrown out. Please provide the citation of this new evidence!!
I never took meds but started eating healthy instead. It worked in my case but doesn’t for everyone. The brain is very uncharted.
Disappointments and problems in life have nothing to do with it. A depressed person hates life and doesn’t feel like living. A bad event can push them over the edge but they always have that feeling inside.
I almost lost my battle and it was during what was supposed to be the happiest time.
“Wow, Doctor!!! I didn’t know that the spinal tap and brain scan info had been thrown out. Please provide the citation of this new evidence!!”
LOL!!!
The “evidence” speaks for itself.
“Chemical imbalance” is just another money maker for the doctors and pharms. It’s all about SUBJECTIVE VOLUME. $$$$$$
"Saying you understand depression because you have felt down is like saying you understand blindness because you have blinked."
The funny thing is, the folks who do it don't realize how foolish they seem.
Yes, it does.
It quite clearly demonstrates how wrong Scientology and the other anti-psychiatry nuts are when they claim there's no physiological basis to clinical depression, etc.
Cheer up! I don’t know of a soul around that hasn’t had something happen in their life that wasn’t sad or depressing. I find it OUTRAGEOUS that doctors and pharms. EXPLOIT this in such a dangerous way.
There is NO “chemical imbalance”. That’s BUNK.
I don’t mean to be cruel to you, but your opinion is wrong. It’s OKAY to admit to a fellow human being that from time to time life is sad or something has depressed you - it’s NORMAL to have times like that. How you solve the problem will make the difference. TALK to a human being who CARES about YOU. Don’t reach for a PILL to escape reality.
How many people does it take to die before people realize that it’s NOT about a “chemical imbalance”? Look at the gay cowboy, Ledger - every time he had a less than stellar moment - he took a pill - to sleep, for energy, for “depression” etc. . Finally the cocktail KILLED him. It’s too bad no one gave a dam to let him TALK to them and really LISTEN and try to help him resolve his personal issues soberly - not drugged up.
“Saying you understand depression because you have felt down is like saying you understand blindness because you have blinked.”
The funny thing is, the folks who do it don’t realize how foolish they seem.
Idiot logic!
Straight logic for you:
I don’t have to have an abortion to know that it is WRONG!
Every one has had their sad times. People get through it in a healthy way with the help of God, family and friends. NO PILL will give you that kind of help. Pills won’t do it for you.
They have EVERYTHING to do with DEPRESSION!
Clearly you don’t understand depression. In EVERY situation there is a REASON for the depression. Every single situation! Perhaps they have low self esteem. Perhaps it is a divorce. Perhaps they lost their job. There is ALWAYS a reason for depression. ALWAYS! It most definitely NOT a “chemical imbalance” - that’s pure bunk.
You really have no clue about the difference between sadness and a physiological response called “Depression”...
It’s like you don’t know the difference between a cut and bleeding, or getting hit and swelling.
But hey, you’re the expert on these medical things that you claim are bogus. I am just DYING to understand what parts were in error. The lumbar puncture procedure, the 5-HT analyses...what was it?
ROTFLOL!
Now I get it... You’re not really an idiot...you’re just doing a spoof.
Hehehe... how about this one....
Nobody’s handicapped...they can just get up and walk if they want to!
Or ... nobody has diabetes...they just don’t want to stay concious!!! This chemical imbalance thing is just bunk to sell insulin!
Hey, this is pretty funny!
No, you are clueless.
“It’s like you don’t know the difference between a cut and bleeding, or getting hit and swelling.”
Yaawwnnnn trying to belittle someone gives you LESS credibility. You already have little ... .
“But hey, you’re the expert on these medical things that you claim are bogus. I am just DYING to understand what parts were in error. The lumbar puncture procedure, the 5-HT analyses...what was it?”
You are more than welcome to advocate drinking the Koolaide or popping pills to get through life. Maybe this justifies your need for meds. The reality is there is a soul issue going on when it turns into “depression”. No chemical will solve that problem. As soon as the chemical wears off, they get that terrible “feeling” again and need another pill.
There is little difference between an alcoholic and an anti depressant pill popper. The reason is the same, MASK REALITY instead of DEALING with REALITY.
I do hope you never, ever take another pill in your life.
Unless you can find one to help your reading comprehension or paranoia.
Now I get it... You’re not really an idiot...you’re just doing a spoof.
Hehehe... how about this one....
Nobody’s handicapped...they can just get up and walk if they want to!
Or ... nobody has diabetes...they just don’t want to stay concious!!! This chemical imbalance thing is just bunk to sell insulin!
Hey, this is pretty funny!
Mocking others who disagree with you says allot about YOU. Using legitimate imbalance to have you feel better about an imaginary imbalance is like comparing apples to oranges. Don't be so desperate - take YOUR MEDS. It doesn't bother me - just trying to point out the truth about chemicals that MASK the reason for the "depression".
When a person has diabetes, they can see that through testing. As for “depression” and “chemical imbalances” it is SUBJECTIVE. I’m sorry you don’t see the difference and are being dishonest about this. I suspect you are on antidepressant and NEED to believe in this imaginary “chemical imbalance”.
Thank goodness! For a minute there I thought that four year old was smoking a...a...a...cigarette! *SMIRK*
BZZZZZT! Thanks for playing.
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