Two former TV personalities in Arizona have been indicted for child abuse after their four-month-old child was found with cocaine in its system, authorities have confirmed to multiple outlets.
According to a public information officer for the Oro Valley Police Department, Krystin Rae Lisaius and Somchai P. Lisaius – both news personalities in the Tucson area – were indicted on June 9 on three felony charges:
- Possession of a dangerous drug.
- Drug paraphernalia.
- Child abuse.
Both halves of the married couple pleaded not guilty in court on Monday; they were released on their own recognizance.
"It would be a gross, gross injustice [with] even the mention of prison time," the Lisaius' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, told Tucson News Now.
He added:
"I anticipate they will demonstrate that they have learned a very hard, embarrassing lesson and that this will become a footnote in their life, not a chapter."
Authorities say they were alerted to the situation after the couple brought the baby to a local hospital because it was showing signs of distress and lethargy.
This hospital visit took place on May 15.
Krystin and Somchai allegedly refused to allow a blood test on the infant, who was then transferred to Diamond Children's Center at the Banner University Medical Center in Tucson by ambulance.
Once there, a urine test was conducted after mother and father once again supposedly refused a blood test, police said. Toxicology results showed the presence of cocaine.
Krystin later allegedly told Oro Valley police that she ingested cocaine following a party at the couple's home.
She allegedly admitted to breastfeeding the baby 12 hours later.
A friend of the couple's told police that he witnessed Krystin snort cocaine in the couple's master bedroom; and police claim Somchai has admitted to cocaine use every six weeks or so.
Somchai is an ex-reporter at Tucson News Now, while Krystin previously worked for nearby KGUN 9. She also competed in 2013 for the title of Miss Arizona USA.
A search of the couple's home produced multiple samples of drug paraphernalia, police said.
The baby is alright and has been placed in the car of its maternal grandmother.
Piccarreta, meanwhile, argues that this was the case of Krystin simply making a mistake because she didn't know how long it would take for cocaine to leave her system.
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