South Alabama woman sentenced to prison for testing positive for illegal drugs after miscarriage
Erin Edgemon
Geneva County, AL
A Henry County woman is serving 54 months in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to testing positive for two illegal drugs after miscarrying a fetus early last year.
On Wednesday, Geneva County Circuit Court Judge William Filmore denied Kayla Braden's request to be placed on probation instead of serving prison time.
Braden, 22, pleaded guilty last month to felony chemical endangerment of a child, felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor public intoxication, court records show.
According to a Dothan Eagle report, Braden, of Shorterville, was arrested on Feb. 19, 2015 for felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication.
"She then admitted she was pregnant and using drugs," Geneva County District Attorney Kirke Adams told the newspaper.
Two days later, police learned Braden had a miscarriage. The fetus was sent to the state Department of Forensic Sciences, where it tested positive for amphetamine and marijuana.
Braden was indicted in August 2015 on the chemical endangerment charge. She was indicted again in October 2015 on a charge of second-degree assault for allegedly punching a corrections officer at Geneva County Jail.
Braden was convicted of felony neglect and abuse of a disabled adult in Henry County in 2015.
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