Mom gets probation for giving child beer

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SANTA FE, N.M., May 11 (UPI) -- A New Mexico woman has admitted giving her toddler a sippy cup of beer in front of undercover drug agents.

Virginia Neel-Blaker, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to child abuse and heroin trafficking, The (Santa Fe) New Mexican reported. As part of her plea agreement, she is to be sentenced to the 18 months she has already spent behind bars plus four years probation.

Her husband, James Blaker, has pleaded guilty to drug charges and been sentenced to five years probation. During Monday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Shelley Strong said in many ways Neel-Blaker was victimized by her husband.

"The state believes her husband was much more culpable in the majority of the charges," she said.

Agents from a state task force were on their third visit to the couple's apartment in public housing in Ojo Caliente, north of Santa Fe, when they saw Neel-Blaker give her 18-month-old daughter a drink from a beer can. She then poured out the milk from her sippy cup and filled it with beer.

The agents immediately identified themselves as police and arrested the Blakers because they thought the child was in danger. The girl has been adopted by another family.