Idaho woman imprisoned for breastfeeding while on meth

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho woman will spend up to a year in prison for exposing her child to methamphetamine while breastfeeding.


The Bonner County Daily Bee reports that 25-year-old Samantha Lee Caroline Morikawa was charged with attempted injury to a child for using the drug while breastfeeding from August 2015 to January. Separately, Morikawa was charged with aggravated assault because prosecutors said she attacked the child's father while he was taking the child away from her after finding about the drug use.

First District Judge Barbara Buchanan sentenced her to up to four years in prison on each charge, but said that if she successfully completes a prison treatment program she may be released early on probation. The prison treatment program typically takes less than a year.

According to court documents, Morikawa said she was unaware the drug would be passed on to her 5-month-old daughter. Morikiawa is currently pregnant with her fourth child.