Metro

HOLLIDAYSBURG — An Altoona woman who told emergency responders in July 2021 that her 15-month-old child had possibly ingested cleaning products — before doctors recognized the child’s symptoms of a meth overdose — has rendered guilty pleas in Blair County court for a state prison sentence with a chance for entry into the State Drug Treatment Program.

Cassidy Marie Rightenour, 25, who pleaded Friday to a felony offense of endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering another person and possession of drug paraphernalia, also entered guilty pleas to felony counts of twice possessing contraband inside the county prison and to a misdemeanor charge of flight to avoid apprehension.

President Judge Wade A. Kagarise imposed the negotiated sentence of two- to five-years incarceration, with a chance for entry into the State Drug Treatment Program that includes options for treatment and supervision.

“I believe she’ll be a good candidate for the State Drug Treatment Program,” defense attorney Robert Donaldson said in court where Assistant District Attorney Mark Bushnell presented the negotiated plea which included the program as an option.

Kagarise advised Rightenour that entry into the program rests with the state Department of Corrections. The judge also advised Rightenour that if she’s not admitted to that program, credit for the time she has been incarcerated may or may not count toward her contraband cases which require a minimum sentence of two years.

Rightenour said she understood.

Altoona police and AMED went to Rightenour’s residence on July 5, 2021, after receiving a report of a child who possibly ingested cleaning products.

While being buckled into the ambulance, the child was reported to be flailing her arms and legs. Rightenour told police that she thought the baby ingested chemicals used when cleaning the carpet and that caused her to be fidgety.

At UPMC Altoona, the child was initially treated for an overdose, then transferred to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for additional treatment. Police secured a search warrant for the residence where they found numerous items containing drug residue, along with drug paraphernalia, syringes and glass smoking pipes.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.