Kalona woman faces felony child endangerment charge

Lang
5/7/23

A Kalona woman faces a felony child endangerment charge after investigators say she became too intoxicated to properly care for a toddler in her care.

Johnson County deputies report responding to a residence on Augusta Avenue in Oxford just after 5:15 Wednesday afternoon and finding 33-year-old Kea Shaw of 133rd Street passed out in a bed. A nine-month-old child was found crying in another room while covered in three heavy blankets.

According to arrest records, the child was wearing a soiled diaper and a soiled onesie, and its bottom was raw. Two empty bottles and an open can of baby food were allegedly found inside the crib, and the baby had dried food on its face. The child was reportedly hot to the touch due to a high body temperature.

Investigators say Shaw showed signs of intoxication and provided a breath alcohol level of .249%. She allegedly had no idea what time of day it was, and deputies say she tried to escape through the back of the residence.

Shaw is charged with Child Endangerment. If convicted, she faces a maximum of five years in prison.