Babysitting dad charged with 3rd-degree child abuse (Tecumseh, Michigan)

Dad DANIEL LEIGH-RAYMOND FOWLE is yet another babysitting dad who was drafted into childcare while Mom worked--with less than stellar effects. No kidding, dude. Smoking weed that's, um, "laced" with something else, is generally not a good idea when you're taking care of a baby. Especially when you get seriously f**ked up doing it.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x115759611/Drugged-father-charged-with-child-abuse

Drugged father charged with child abuse

By Dennis Pelham
Daily Telegram
Posted Sep 18, 2010 @ 12:40 PM

TECUMSEH, Mich. — Smoking marijuana laced with another drug while caring for his baby landed a 25-year-old Tecumseh dad in court on a felony third-degree child abuse charge.

Daniel Leigh-Raymond Fowle was arraigned Friday in Lenawee County District Court. He remains free on personal recognizance while awaiting a preliminary examination on Sept. 27.

A serious reaction Fowle suffered after smoking the substance brought police to his apartment on North Occidental Road the evening of Aug. 16. His 3-month-old daughter was not injured, but Fowle required medical attention, said Scott Smith, interim Tecumseh police chief.

A warrant authorized by the Lenawee County prosecutor’s office charges Fowle with putting the baby at risk of injury by using a drug that impaired his mental and physical ability to function. The third-degree child abuse charge carries a maximum two-year prison term.

“It’s an unfortunate incident,” said Fowle’s attorney, Gregory Worker, of Onsted.

Worker declined to comment on circumstances that led to Fowle’s drug reaction. But he said Fowle is focused now on correcting his mistakes as a parent.

“My client is going to parenting classes and he’s doing what he can to put this behind him,” Worker said. “He’s cooperating fully with Child Protective Services.”

Fowle was caring for the baby while the mother was working that evening, Smith said. Police received a call at 6:45 p.m. from someone at Fowle’s apartment, reporting he needed help.

“When the officers knocked they didn’t get any initial response,” Smith said. Fowle eventually answered, he said, and officers reported he was stumbling around and apparently passed out while they were there.

“He was in need of medical attention at the time,” Smith said.

Fowle and the baby were alone in the apartment when officers entered, Smith said.

Some time later, he said, Fowle turned over to police some marijuana that was laced with another substance.