A 13-year-old girl was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center Sunday and her mother was arrested after the mother allegedly gave the girl two shots of an alcoholic beverage.
Crystal Gooseberry, aka Crystal Walker, 31, who is currently on probation, allegedly told police “she did not think her daughter had consumed enough to pass out.”
According to a probable cause affidavit from Pine Bluff Police Department Detective Marcia Oliver, the two drinks resulted in the girl being rushed to the emergency room, where a blood alcohol test indicated a reading of 0.14. In Arkansas, a reading of 0.10 is considered legally intoxicated for adults, while for juveniles, a reading of 0.08 is considered legally intoxicated.
Oliver reported that the mother said she had rented a motel room so the girl could celebrate her 13th birthday, and she allegedly allowed her daughter to drink the alcoholic beverage when the girl passed out.
Because of the probationary status, Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set a $10,000 cash only bond for Gooseberry/Walker after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge her with endangering the welfare of a minor.
Gooseberry/Walker said she would hire her own attorney.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services was contacted about the daughter, police said.