The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department issued the following press release:
On February 24th, a Sheriff’s Department Deputy located an unconscious juvenile on the floorboard of a truck parked in the desert at a known local party spot. By the time the juvenile was admitted to Northern Inyo Hospital, the juvenile was suffering from hypothermia, alcohol poisoning, and was unable to keep his/her airway open due to the extreme level of intoxication. The juvenile’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was 0.30%, nearly four times the legal driving limit.
After further investigation and interviews, information was provided about who purchased the alcohol the juvenile consumed on that evening. On February 29th 2012, 39-year-old Sheila Reid was arrested for felony child endangerment, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If convicted of child endangerment, Reid could face up to six years in state prison with mandatory probation. If convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Reid could face up to a year in county jail.
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind the public that contributing to a minor has serious consequences. Severe alcohol poisoning can be fatal; and even if the victim lives an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. If there is any suspicion that someone has overdosed on alcohol it is imperative that you call 911.
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Thanks for responding. I guess the legal system wins again.
How does the legal system win again? This lady provides alcohol to a MINOR (under 18 years of age)….that minor WOULD have died if she was not found. Really???? .3% blood alcohol? That would floor anybody. Wayne Deja has it most likely correct….The adult who purchased the alcohol will probably get 6 months in jail at best with another couple years of probation. So tell me again how the legal system wins?
Benett- am I correct in saying this is just the Sheriffs press release? If so, it seems kind of one sided not to hear from a more neutral party. Would you agree?
No, I would not agree. At this stage of an arrest, the defendant does not have a lawyer and even if she did, defense attorneys rarely, if ever, are willing to say anything. Plus, the Inyo District Attorney has refused to speak to news reporters. Face it, Trouble, this is the way the news works. One of the down sides to being arrested is that the public has a right to know about it. Benett Kessler
Child endangerment could get her 6 years in prison…..contributing to the delinquency of a minor could get her a year in county jail……my bet is after a long drawn out process…..and a plea bargain,she’ll get probation….if that.
What would u sentence her to Wayne?
If I were the judge,I’d need more info than there is out there for us right now….How much booze and/or drugs were involved…how many others kids were involved,and how the one that almost died on the floorboard of the truck ended up there.If the adult is related,etc.If guilty of child endangerment,at least a year in prison,sending her and the minor a message…If guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor…max sentance of 6 months in county….IMO…
Thank God that they found this kid, when they did. This person that bought the alcohol is in big trouble, how would she feel if this kid had passed away. Trying to be cool for the kids.
How old was the minor?
I would imagine under 21 for sure and most likely under 18.
Doesn’t matter, a minor is a minor!!!!!!!
It does matter how old the kid is. And I think the age should have been reported in the first place. It’s a lot worse to give a grade school kid a bottle of booze than a kid old enough to enlist in the Army. I remember when a 16 year old could buy booze in Hawaii .
Again, I think the age should have been reported in this article and it does matter.
Probably way under 18……like,maybe 15 or 16……or younger…
Minor = 18 to 20
Juvenile = Under 18
Um minor = 18-20? Last I knew under 18 is a minor .. over 18 is and adult. Over 21 = allowed to drink.
Reality Bites…..Reality is over 18 is an adult….
Wayne, when an 18, 19, or 20 year old is arrested for possession of Alcohol the Charge is “Minor in Possession”. For purpoese of Alcohol possession 18 is a minor. For voting, military, murder etc. they are an adult.
Reality Bites….you serious? a minor is not 18 to 20. Read the definition of a minor and come back and post the definition. Anyone under 18 is a minor…end of story.
Anyone under 18 is a juvenile and subject to juvenine court and juvenile probation. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Kids don’t need us to be cool or to be their buddy, they need us to be ADULTS and to help and guide them into being decent human beings
They need us to be responsible Home girl, how can we teach responsibility is we don’t have it to show?
*If we don’t have it to show.
Where is her picture????
Interesting question
The police did not provide a photo. BK
So what’s the deal? You don’t go looking for stories, you wait until they are handed to you?
Cat, You apparently don’t know me and what I do. I have been reporting news – most of which I personally uncover – in Inyo and Mono, with reports to KABC in Los Angeles from time to time – for 37 years. My partner and mentor, John Heston, and I brought the first real, hard news reporting to the Eastern Sierra starting in 1975. We uncovered many of the activities of the DWP and local politicians throughout the Owens Valley and in Mammoth and Mono County. Heston had a background in metropolitan daily newspapers in Texas and the west along with TV and radio experience. Heston and I pioneered television when we started ICTV Channel 12 in Inyo. Prior to that we were on radio in Lone Pine, Bishop, and Mammoth Lakes, and published the Inyo-Mono Newsletter.
From the beginning of our work, we provided film and then video to KCBS and KABC in LA, plus news to the LA Times. I continue to do this work, and residents here know they can contact me with concerns and get some action when possible. I make the editorial decisions on this website and on radio and TV, along with Bob Todd. We believe in full disclosure of information to the public, including press releases and photos sent by police. The last couple of stories did not include photos. We’re not sure why. We began asking for mug shots a number of years ago. In short, I have worked for other media in Inyo and Mono but found that I could bring the best truths I could find here through my own media. If you have read all of this website and taken in our radio and TV news, you know we present more than news releases. If you just want to communicate hate and grind an axe, don’t come here. Benett Kessler
Bennett, people in the Owens Valley and Mammoth don’t know how lucky they are to have KSRW and Channel 33 these are the only truely local news we get. The other radio stations and papers just repeat mostly information from other sources. If it were not for your media lots of under the table and behind closed doors decisions would not be seen by the voting public of Inyo and Mono Counties. PS I for one sure miss your Bureaucrat Beat hope you can start doing them again. Thanks
Daris, Thanks so much. We really appreciate your post. Sincerely, Benett
My comment about the lack of a photo, was just that .. good question, because most of the time they show photos of the accused, this time it is absent, makes you wonder .. just saying, not pointing fingers.
So Cat what was that dig about anyways. I’m pretty sure they go get the news from the sources, and I’m sure the sources, in this case, the PD, isn’t interested in handing out stories, they have to be asked for.