Couple sentenced after fleeing hospital while deputies found drugs in home within reach of child

SHELLEY – A couple have been sentenced after the woman delivering a 15-week-old baby led deputies to find large amounts of drugs in their home.

Kali Mckenna Johnson accepted a plea agreement where she pleaded guilty to felony injury of a child and three felony drug charges, which include possession and manufacturing controlled substances. The agreement dismissed four felony and three misdemeanor charges.

Bingham County Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hart told EastIdahoNews.com in May that he was not able to release the fetus’s status due to Professional Rule of Conduct 3.8 (f) of the American Bar Association.

According to the amended complaint of Johnson, the injury to a child charge was for “a child under the age of 18, was endangered by having loose marijuana, methamphetamine and ample amounts of drug paraphernalia within the immediate reach.”

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On Monday, Johnson was sentenced by 7th District Judge Darren B. Simpson to six years of probation and suspended her prison sentence of up to 17 years.

Christopher Roy Mitchell also accepted a plea agreement where he pled guilty to felony injury of a child and a felony manufacturing, delivery or possession of a controlled substance.

7th District Judge Stevan Thompson sentenced him on Jan. 22 to five years of probation. His prison sentence — which would have been up to eight years — was also suspended. Both counts ran concurrently.

As part of their probation, the pair are required to serve community service, with Johnson having 300 hours and Mitchell having 100 hours. Johnson was also required to participate in the Bonneville County Wood Court Program, where she’ll start the program at the Bonneville County Jail. She was given 180 days of discretionary jail time, which her probation officer could enforce if needed.

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Background

According to the affidavit, on Jan. 10, 2024, a Bingham County Sheriff’s detective was called to a home after Johnson made a report that her 15-week-old fetus had come out of her body.

When deputies arrived at the property, Johnson and the fetus had been taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in an ambulance. The affidavit states Johnson and Mitchell were renting the apartment on the property. Johnson’s 18-month-old son was there with an unidentified friend at the home.

The affidavit states the deputies made it inside the home, and the smell of marijuana came from within. A deputy noted that a joint was on the kitchen table.

Mitchell made his way back to the apartment, where he allowed officials to search. Mitchell handed the detective a plastic jar with marijuana in it and confirmed it was marijuana.

A search warrant was obtained where large amounts of paraphernalia, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, pills and suspected marijuana plants were found.

While searching the apartment, deputies were notified that Johnson and Mitchell had fled from the hospital, and a welfare check was requested by staff at the hospital. The affidavit states Johnson had gotten out of surgery and had her IVs still connected to her.

The affidavit states many of the drugs found in the apartment were found within items that appeared to belong to a female, like purses and zip-up bags.

Drugs were in the open throughout the apartment, including where the child would lie and play.

Detectives say there was loose marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia “surrounding” the child’s play area. A plastic tray from an infant high chair was being used “as a plate to separate and prepare marijuana for consumption.”

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