UPDATE: Ponca City man enters guilty plea to child neglect charge

NEWKIRK — Alejandro Flores Juarez, 33, appeared in Kay County District Court this week before Judge Thomas Griesedieck and assistant district attorney Billie Chrz and entered a guilty plea to child neglect. Sentencing is deferred for seven years and he is ordered to complete 80 hours of community service. He was represented by attorney Jack Shears.

Ponca City man faces child neglect charge after child ingests marijuana gummy

NEWKIRK — A court date is scheduled for Alejandro Flores Juarez, 33, Ponca City, in Kay County District Court.

Juarez-Flores is facing a felony count of child neglect filed on July 17.

Ponca City police report that on June 13 officers responded to a report of an 18-month old who had ingested a THC gummy and was in critical condition.

The child was transported from Integris Ponca City via ambulance to Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Police and DHS workers went to the home and spoke to Juarez and other family members.

Jeana Juarez reportedly told officials that both her and her husband have medical marijuana cards and that they keep the drugs locked up.  She reportedly told police that her and Juarez were outside smoking marijuana between 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and later realized that Alejandro had left the edibles on the couch.

She said they looked for the gummy for about 20 minutes and that during this time the child was playing and acting fine. She reportedly told police that the child got really tired and that they put her down for a nap at about 3 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m. they woke the child up and realized she was overly tired. Alejandro and his mother-in-law took the child to the hospital.

Alejandro reportedly told police a similar story but added that the child seemed to be a little loopy, drop, giggly, and smiley and that is when he realized she had eaten the gummy.

He reportedly told police that the gummies are 1,000 mg. per bag and that there are 10 in a bag.

Police report that the family allowed investigators to take photos and look around the house. Investigators noted that there was a child lock on the drawer where the drugs are kept.

Police report that the child was released from the hospital on June 16.

Juarez-Flores was arrested and bond set at $25,000.

Attorney Jack Shears entered his appearance before Judge David Wilde on July 22 and bond was lowered to $10,000 on the condition that Juarez-Flores keep the drugs locked up at times.

He is free on $10,000 bond.