Photos: Ryan J. Eberley and Alexandra Neel
A Gassville couple arrested after their 19-month-old son tested positive for methamphetamine appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
Ryan J. Eberley and Alexandra Neel, both 27-years-old, entered not guilty pleas to charges of introducing a controlled substance into the body of another, endangering the welfare of a minor and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.
The introducing charge is a Class Y felony, the most serious crime classification in Arkansas not punishable by death.
Eberley and Neel were arrested after a hair follicle test run on the little boy showed a significant level of methamphetamine in his system.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) removed the child from the home, when the test results were received.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the test “generally reflects exposures within the prior three months.”
DHS staff reported seeing two glass pipes, normally used to smoke methamphetamine, in a drawer in the couple’s bedroom that they shared with the child.
According to the child’s doctor, the little boy’s medical conditions and complex medical care requirements put him at risk for “adverse outcomes” if his caregivers “are under the influence of substances” and unable to provide the 24-hour care needed.
At the time of her recent arrest, Neel was on probation after being convicted of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in August 2018.
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