Jefferson Township parents charged after 6-month old tests positive cocaine
Two Jefferson Township parents are facing felony charges after their 6-month-old daughter tested positive for cocaine.
State police were initially called to investigate Howard Bland Jr., 54, and Angel Friend, 31, for child abuse by Fayette County Children and Youth Services in March.
According to the criminal complaint, a CYS employee went to their home in the 1000 block of West Third Street on March 16. Officials determined that Bland had assaulted Friend, and he was arrested by state police on a misdemeanor simple assault charge.
Police found the infant sleeping and described her as being “extremely lethargic.” Another child in the home told police the baby had not been fed for 12 hours.
According to the complaint, the baby was transported to Uniontown Hospital for medical treatment. Police said the results of a drug screen came back in April, and indicated that the baby had cocaine in her system.
Both Bland and Friend are charged with a felony of endangering the welfare of a child, and a misdemeanor for corruption of minors.
They were arraigned Wednesday afternoon by District Judge Richard Kasunic, who sent them to the Fayette County jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 31.