Local Resident Faces Drug And Neglect Charges

Oskaloosa Police Department

In a press release today by the Oskaloosa Police Department:

On May 31st 2011, The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Oskaloosa Police

Department initiated an investigation involving a five year old child who had a positive urine drug screen indicating the presence of marijuana. During the course of the investigation, the child told investigators that during visitation with her mother, she would smoke “small cigarettes” consistent with hand rolled marijuana cigarettes commonly referred to as “joints” and blow the smoke into the child’s face to get the child to go to sleep. The mother was identified as Stephanie Rashall Cope.

At the completion of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for Cope. On June 15th 2011 at about 6:23 pm Cope was spotted by Oskaloosa Police officers in the 400 block of High Avenue West and placed into custody without incident. Cope is currently held in the Mahaska County Jail on $25,000 bond. Cope is charged with distribution of a schedule I controlled substance to a person under the age of eighteen, a class B felony punishable by up to twenty five years in prison, and wanton neglect of a dependent person, a class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

The child is currently in the custody of the biological father and step-mother.

A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.