Jailed January Neatherlin, 32, admitted in court that she had made 'a very poor call,' forever changing her life, after nearly a dozen parents testified against her for significant changes to their children's lives
A DAYCARE owner has been jailed for more than 21 years for drugging children in her care with melatonin so she could spend all day tanning and going to the gym.
Nearly a dozen parents testified against January Neatherlin, 32, as she appeared in court in Oregon on Friday, March 9.
One family said their daughter suffered a brain injury consistent with shaken baby syndrome while in Neatherlin's care at Little Giggles daycare in Bend, Oregon, as other parents said their children struggled to sleep after their time with Neatherlin, according to.
"She repeatedly administered a sleeping agent to a room full of infants, toddlers and children and drove off in her car to fulfill her narcissistic needs.
"There is no room in our society for monsters like this. January has no respect for human life," one parent said.
Prosecutors, who asked for a 35-year prison term, called Neatherlin’s crimes more than just criminal mistreatment, saying the daycare owner had a history of criminal activity.
Neatherlin read a statement in court, apologising and asking for forgiveness. She also said she had failed as a caretaker and as a parent to her own children.
"Everybody makes mistakes, but not everybody takes responsibility for those mistakes. With that said, I hope the court and the parents accept my apology.
"I made a very poor call, and it has forever changed my life and even ended it,” she said.
When handing down the sentence, Judge Wells Ashby highlighted the carnage Neatherlin had caused for the families, noting several were still dealing with the aftermath, including broken relationships, behavioural problems and financial struggles.
Ashby sentenced Neatherlin to 31 months on each of 12 counts she pleaded guilty to last month. These included 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of third-degree assault.
In total, Neatherlin was sentenced to 21 years and four months in prison and will be able to receive credit for time served.
Speaking outside the court room, some parents said after the sentence that "justice was served."
The sentencing hearing came nearly one year after police investigators found seven children under five years old drugged and unattended at Neatherlin’s unlicensed Little Giggles Day Care while she was at a tanning salon.
Melatonin is a hormone made in the pineal gland in the brain, and helps your body know when to sleep and to wake up.
Usually, your body takes in more melatonin at night, as levels start to go up in the evening once the sun sets and drop once the the sun rises.
The amount of light you get each day sets how much melatonin your body makes.
The hormone is also available in pills, liquids and chewables as a supplement and can be used to treat insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder or jet lag.
But side effects for taking melotonin include daytime sleepiness, headaches, dizziness, gastro discomfort, anxiety, crankiness, feeling 'heavy-headed' and a short lived depression.
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