Slauson sentencing delayed
December 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson
The sentencing date has been extended for a Cass County woman convicted on numerous charges associated with faking her 5-year old daughter’s cancer. According to online court records, 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson’s sentencing which had been scheduled to take place Dec. 22nd, will not take place now until January 20th.
Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner said the delay is due in-part to a witness or a witness’ report being unavailable in-time for the original sentencing date. Feistner says the witness is a professional, possibly selected to offer testimony as to Slauson’s current mental capacity to understand the proceedings.
Slauson’s attorney Jay Mez requested the continuance on Dec. 12th. Fourth District Court Judge Kathleen Kilnoski granted the request on Wednesday (Dec. 17th). The 20th was chosen as the sentencing date, since the 19th is a State holiday.
Slauson faces up to 21-years in jail when she is sentenced at 10-a.m. on Jan. 20th in Cass County District Court. Feistner said he’s not sure how much time, if any, she’ll actually be required to serve. He said the Dept. of Corrections Pre-Sentence Investigation [or, PSI], will likely have a lot of bearing on what the outcome will be.
The woman admitted last month that had given her daughter Cannabis Oil and Neupogen without a prescription. She also admitted she raised money for her daughter’s supposed cancer treatment, under false pretenses.
In her plea bargain, Slauson agreed to plead guilty to Class D felony charges that include two counts of Child Endangerment/Bodily Injury, with regard to the administering of Cannabis Oil and Neupogen to her daughter Riley, as well as a count of Administering Harmful Substances. She also plead guilty to a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Unlawful Possession of a prescription drug/Neupogen, and a reduced felony charge of Theft in the second degree, also a Class D- felony. She was originally charged with Theft in the 1st degree, a Class C felony.
Slauson was released from custody and is currently living with her mother in Hampton, Iowa.