Dustin Sandoval and Shannah Cotter
A man and woman have now both been charged with introducing a controlled substance into the body of another, after their infant daughter tested positive for having both methamphetamine and THC in her system.
The charge lodged against 28-year-old Dustin Sandoval of Mountain Home and Shannah Cotter of Gamaliel is a Class Y felony, the most serious class of crime in Arkansas not punishable by death. A person can be sentenced to 10 to 40 years or life on a Class Y felony.
Cotter was charged first. She appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court July 11 and entered a not guilty plea to the charge of exposing her daughter to illegal drugs. Sandoval made his first appearance during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday on a video hookup from the Marion County jail and entered a not guilty plea.
In Baxter County, Sandoval is also charged with third-degree domestic battery and endangering the welfare of a minor.
He is also in trouble in Marion County for a rock-throwing incident involving Cotter and the couple’s infant daughter. Sandoval has entered a not guilty plea to those charges as well. He was locked up in the Marion County jail April 23, with bond set at $15,000.
The introducing drugs charge was filed against Cotter after the daughter she had with Sandoval was taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center April 11. The baby girl was treated for severe bruising to the left leg and vaginal area, allegedly resulting from a spanking administered by Sandoval.
The injuries were suspected to be the result of child abuse. Baxter County Sheriff’s Office investigators went to BRMC’s emergency room and examined the little girl’s injuries. One of the investigators reported being able to make out finger marks on both sides of the area of bruising. The baby was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
As part of the examination at ACH, a hair follicle toxicology test was done, and the little girl tested positive for exposure to drugs.
In an interview with an investigator with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, Cotter is alleged to have said the little girl was with her most of the time, but they were both with Sandoval at least once a week at what Cotter described as his “tree house.”
While the baby was still at BRMC, investigators interviewed two women at the hospital who were identified as frequent caregivers for the infant.
One of the women said Sandoval had placed his daughter in the care of her and her boyfriend about 8:45 a.m. April 11. She said she noticed the baby was dirty and gave her a bath. It was during the bath she saw the extensive bruising and took the child to BRMC. The woman said she could attest none of the injuries had been present the day before at about 5 p.m. when the baby was placed in Sandoval’s care.
When Sandoval was interviewed, he admitted he had “accidentally” dropped the little girl while carrying her up some steep stairs to his home.
He told investigators his daughter was screaming, he became frustrated, put her over his shoulders and repeatedly struck her on the buttocks.
At the time of the incident, Cotter was in Little Rock having her second child by Sandoval.
Sandoval also faces charges in Marion County stemming from an incident that, according to court records, happened in August 2018 even though the paperwork in the case is filed marked April 29 this year. The record is silent on a cause for the lag.
Cotter told officers she had gone to Sandoval’s residence on Aug. 11, 2018 because she said he was “going to give me things for our daughter.” When she arrived, she said Sandoval started to “act crazy.” Cotter told investigators Sandoval and his mother were both yelling at her and she tried to drive away. Cotter said at that point, Sandoval allegedly followed her and began throwing rocks at her vehicle. Sandoval was reported to have yelled at Cotter to stop, as he “just wanted to talk a minute.”
According to the probable cause affidavit, she reported putting her car in reverse to return and speak with him. However, it is alleged Sandoval hid in the woods until Cotter passed him. He then emerged from his hiding place with a rock in his hand and told Cotter to get out of the vehicle or he would break her windshield. When she did not do as he requested, Sandoval is alleged to have carried out his threat.
In addition to “significant damage” to the vehicle, Cotter also received cuts on her legs when particles of glass from the broken windshield fell on her, according to investigators.
The infant daughter involved in the suspected child abuse and drug exposure was the same little girl in the car during the alleged rock-throwing incident by her father.
After he was done flinging rocks at Cotter’s vehicle, Sandoval was reported to have run back into the woods to hide. The affidavit in the Marion County case is silent on when he was arrested.
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