A 17-year-old babysitter was arrested in Florida after allegedly coercing a 1-year-old into inhaling marijuana. Naledi Roberts reportedly watched the baby for her friend, the child's 16-year-old mother. She allegedly filmed the incident but denied giving the child marijuana. She did, however, admit to smoking around the baby.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office released a statement Marh 23 regarding the incident and Roberts' subsequent arrest. Deputies responded to a home in Largo for suspected child abuse. Upon their arrival, the investigators spoke with Roberts, who handed over the video evidence, which was the evidence needed to charge her.
More From CafeMom: A Black Couple Is Fighting 'Biased' System in Tennessee To Regain Custody of Their 5 Kids
Roberts was reportedly babysitting for a teen mom.
Roberts admitted that she was in charge of the child while her mother was out of the home. Although she denied giving the toddler marijuana, detectives turned the case over to the Crimes Against Children's Unit.
"Through various investigative techniques, detectives were able to obtain the video, which shows Roberts placing the marijuana cigarette in the victim's mouth. The victim then inhales while the lit marijuana cigarette is in their mouth, and the embers begin to glow brighter," the news release reads. "Roberts then takes the marijuana cigarette out of the mouth of the one-year-old victim and places it into her own mouth, and inhales, causing the embers to glow brighter."
Detectives gave Roberts a second chance to tell the truth.
Investigators interviewed Roberts again; this time, she admitted to giving the child marijuana. She reportedly refused to answer questions about why she gave the child the substance.
She was charged with one count of felony child abuse and was taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center without incident, the release reads.
Roberts has no prior criminal record.
The Mirror reported that Roberts had two previous run-ins with the law. Both were driving violations: one in October 2021 and another in December 2022. Both times she was found driving without a person older than 21 in the passenger seat while driving under a learner's permit. She paid two separate fines of $166.
More From CafeMom: Police Say Toddler Died After Being Left in a Hot Car While Mom Was Tending 150 Pot Plants
Child abuse is a serious charge in Florida.
Because of the felony charges related to the babysitting incident, Roberts faces jail time. As a third-degree felony, child abuse or neglect that doesn't cause bodily harm, disfigurement, or disability means Roberts could spend five years in prison and have to pay fines up to $5,000, according to the Mirror. A judge will consider her previous convictions and the impact of her actions while determining her punishment.
Early exposure to marijuana may increase the propensity to use the drug as an adult.
Per the Mirror, according to a Harvard University study, children exposed to marijuana by age 14 are almost twice as likely to perform delinquent behaviors such as drug use. Additionally, those with early exposure to marijuana are twice as likely to be marijuana or tobacco users are adults.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. In 2019, 48.2 million people, or nearly 18%, of Americans, reported being marijuana users.
"Marijuana use directly affects the brain, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotion, and reaction time. Infants, children, and teens (who still have developing brains) are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of marijuana," the CDC explains.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
