Mother Sentenced in Baby’s Methamphetamine Death

A woman accused of killing her baby through breast milk tainted with methamphetamines pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony child endangerment.

Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey sentenced Cynthia Ann Pinson, 39, of Orange to four years in prison.

Pinson was arrested in January based on an autopsy’s conclusion that her 6-week-old son, Robert Henry Sage, who died two years ago, had methamphetamine in his body. She had been missing for months before surrendering to authorities.

With her plea, Pinson acknowledged endangering her child but did not admit that her action led to his death.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Elizabeth Henderson said similar cases have been tried in other jurisdictions. “Because methamphetamine is a newly popular drug, we are seeing more cases like this,” she said.

The baby’s death was initially attributed to sudden infant death syndrome, but a coroner’s autopsy determined that he died of a methamphetamine overdose, authorities said.

After being confronted with the coroner’s report, Pinson changed her account, Orange Police Det. Michael Harper testified at a preliminary hearing.

She said that when she took drugs “she would try to wait a couple of days before she nursed again,” he testified.

Henderson said Tuesday: “The people’s theory was that the baby died of the methamphetamine found in the body. She knew it was dangerous, and she did it anyway.”

Deputy Public Defender Marne Glass contended that there is not enough scientific research to prove that methamphetamine-tainted breast milk causes death in babies. She said she was prepared to introduce an expert witness who would have testified to that effect.