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Jonesboro mother accused of exposing kids to meth, cocaine, and THC

Jonesboro mother accused of exposing kids to meth, cocaine, and THC

Photo: Craighead County Sheriffs Office


Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A Jonesboro woman is being held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond after police said her three young children, including a 10-month-old baby, tested positive for meth, cocaine, and THC.

District Judge David Boling found probable cause on March 13 to charge 30-year-old Latrica Marie Upshaw with three counts of introducing a controlled substance into another’s body – narcotic drug Schedule I and II (Class Y felony), and three counts of introducing a controlled substance into another’s body – Schedule IV, V, and VI (Class C felony).

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Jonesboro police took Upshaw into custody Feb. 17, and her three children were placed into the care of Child Protective Services (CPS). Medical evaluations and drug screenings were performed on the children soon after. Results received on March 3 revealed they all tested positive for meth, cocaine, and THC.

In an interview with police, Upshaw denied using meth or cocaine but admitted to smoking marijuana in the home. She told investigators her five-year-old child would gather the two younger siblings and move them to another room whenever Upshaw began smoking.

During her probable cause hearing, it was noted that Upshaw had prior arrests for endangering the welfare of a minor and driving while intoxicated. Because of this, Boling ordered Upshaw to wear a GPS and a blood-alcohol monitor and to not consume alcohol as a condition of her release.

Upshaw’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 23. If convicted, she could face life in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

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