An Audubon County woman who pled guilty to two counts of Felony Child Endangerment with Serious Injury, and one count of Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person, was sentenced to prison, Thursday. Cass County Attorney Michael Hooper reports 51-year old Samantha Kay Bailey, of Gray, received 20-years in prison after her grandchildren ate methamphetamine they found on her, while searching for Easter eggs on April 9^th, 2017.

Bailey was originally scheduled to be sentenced this last Monday, April 23rd, after entering a guilty plea to three of four charges against her on February 12th of this year. The case had dragged on for nearly a year before Bailey entered her guilty pleas on February 12th.

Back on February 1, 2017, defense counsel requested its fifth continuance of the trial date. Cass County Attorney, Michael Hooper, entered an appearance in the case as “special prosecutor” to assist Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings and he quickly filed a “resistance” to any further continuances. Court records reflect that subpoenas were served on all of the State’s witnesses, and with their back to the wall, the defense entered guilty pleas to three of the four counts against Mrs. Bailey.

On the day set for sentencing Bailey hired a new attorney and made a motion to withdrawal her guilty plea and requested another continuance. Hooper filed a resistance to the motion to withdraw the guilty plea and the motion to continue. The Court denied Bailey’s request to withdraw her guilty plea finding it untimely. Under Iowa law, a motion to withdraw a guilty plea must be filed at least five days prior to the date set for sentencing. Bailey filed her motion just hours before the sentencing hearing was set to begin. After denying Bailey’s motion to withdraw her guilty plea, the Court did grant her one last continuance, but only until Thursday.

Bailey did give a remorseful statement but Judge Christensen pointed out that she wasn’t remorseful just days prior when she attempted to withdraw her plea. In handing down the consecutive sentences Judge Christensen indicated that Bailey will serve ten years for each victim of her crime.

The mother of the two children who ingested the meth said in court, “Sam, you didn’t have to witness what I witnessed that day, and I’m still not sure that you fully grasp just how much your addiction has affected your grandchildren. Your struggle with drug addiction nearly cost my children their lives. Everyday I wonder…. at what point is enough truly enough.”