Justin Neal French, 40, of Statesville was arrested on Sunday after four children and two adults became sick after eating marijuana-infused brownies that were mistakenly mixed with regular brownies.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home in North Iredell County after the caller noticed an adult and three children, ages 6, 6 and 9, were showing symptoms of possibly being poisoned.
Deputies arrived on the scene along with Emergency Medical Services.
The caller informed deputies that the family had been to another relative’s home earlier that day and had eaten brownies that were possibly tainted with something that caused them to become ill. The three children were found to be in serious physical condition and were transported to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Two adults in the home also received treatment for symptoms.
After learning the name and address of the relative who had given them the brownies, several deputies visited French’s home to further investigate where they noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the home.
While securing the residence deputies located another 4-year-old child who appeared to be suffering the same symptoms as the other children.
The four-year-old was taken to Iredell Memorial Hospital Emergency Room and treated for a drug overdose.
Detectives assisting with the investigation obtained a search warrant and were able to locate marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
While being interviewed by detectives, French admitted to making marijuana-infused brownies for his personal use. He also told detectives the marijuana-laced brownies were mistakenly mixed together with regular brownies.
The children’s grandmother, who did not want to be identified, told Channel 9 her family are innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"This is the most ridiculous thing. They are not drug users … When I saw them I knew they needed medical attention."
French was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center where he was charged with four counts of misdemeanor child abuse, four counts of felony sell and deliver a controlled substance to a minor under 13 years old, aggravated misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance.
French was given a $300,000 secured bond.
All four children are expected to be released from the hospital and make full recoveries.
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