A Laramie couple accused of keeping drugs in the same room as an infant — including a meth-loaded syringe investigators say was found inside the baby's crib — face felony charges after a probation officer inspected their home.
Alyisha Edwards and Edward Miller are each charged with one count of a child being present where meth or fentanyl is possessed, a felony that could put them in prison for up to 10 years each.
They are also being charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Both waived their preliminary hearings Tuesday, and a judge set their bonds at $30,000 cash-only, according to court records made available Thursday.
Syringe In The Bassinet
The allegations stem from a probation compliance check at a residence in Laramie last week.
Wyoming Probation and Parole agents requested assistance from deputies while checking on Edwards, who was under supervision, wrote Albany County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Fourman in an affidavit supporting the charges.
When authorities arrived at the home shortly before 11 a.m. May 27, they were told by a roommate that Edwards wasn't home.
Eventually, authorities found Edwards with Miller hiding in a shed behind the home, court documents say.
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia during the search of the shed, including glass and metal pipes with suspected meth and marijuana residue.
What deputies say they found inside a bedroom elevated the case.
Inside the couple's bedroom, they found a loaded hypodermic syringe containing suspected liquid meth at the bottom of an infant bassinet belonging to their son.
Deputies wrote that Edwards told investigators the child regularly slept there.
A subsequent TruNarc test of the liquid inside the syringe produced a presumptive positive result for meth, the affidavit states.
Pointing Fingers
After their arrests, both adults reportedly told investigators the syringe belonged to the other.
According to the affidavit, Edwards admitted using meth days earlier, but denied ownership of the syringe, telling investigators it belonged to Miller.
During an interview with investigators, “Edwards admitted her infant son … regularly sleeps in the bedroom inside the infant bassinet, and admitted to using methamphetamine the previous Sunday,” the affidavit says.
“Further, Alyisha Edwards claimed the hypodermic needle found in the bassinet was not hers, but belonged to Edward Miller and stated her roommate does not use drugs,” the document continues.
Miller, meanwhile, allegedly told investigators the syringe belonged to Edwards, the affidavit says.
The competing explanations are among the issues likely to be addressed as the case moves through Albany County District Court.
Miller is represented by Albany County Public Defender David M. Korman. Edwards is represented by court-appointed attorney Jeremey William Meerkreebs.
Cases Headed To District Court
Tuesday's hearing in Albany County Circuit Court lasted only minutes. Rather than requiring prosecutors to present evidence supporting the charges, both defendants waived their hearings.
Edwards and Miller will next appear in Albany County District Court for arraignment hearings that had not yet been scheduled.
Kolby Fedore can be reached at kolby@cowboystatedaily.com.
