Drug Called Pregnant Lady’s Deadly Weapon
Posted: Feb 24, 2008 07:19 PM CST
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.- A Williamson County woman is behind bars accused of using a deadly weapon against her unborn child. Investigators said Demetria Jones put her seven month old unborn child in serious danger, and that her weapon of choice was a drug.
Demetria Jones went to the Williamson Medical Center Saturday complaining of chest pains. During the checkup nurses took blood work from her.
“They became alarmed as the blood work results showed cocaine in her system, and she was seven months pregnant,” said Williamson County Deputy Attorney General, Derek Smith.
A sheriff’s deputy working at the hospital told Smith about the situation. Smith had Jones arrested and taken to the county jail. She now faces a felony charge: reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
"The facts fit the charge. We had the scenario of the fetus is at risk of death or serious bodily injury, and the weapon was cocaine. “I have no doubt that cocaine is a deadly weapon for a fetus,” said Smith.
According to state law, a fetus can be a victim of a crime as long as it is viable.
For now, Jones remains at the Williamson County Jail. Derek Smith said the case is not just about punishment, but it is also about saving an unborn child.
“What I hope in this case is we intervened at the right time, and we ensure the fetus will be born healthy and normal,” said Smith.
Jones is scheduled to be in court for a bond hearing on Monday.
Smith said he’s never seen a case in Williamson county like this one in his ten years of working with the DA’s office.
If convicted of the charge against her, Jones could face up to two years in prison.
