Multiple Drug Charges & Child Abuse
According to Macon County Sheriffs Department detectives, Carey brought Ashley Renee Mangrum to the Macon County Justice Center that day for a court hearing and left Mangrum’s two children in her vehicle when someone noticed and reported the unsupervised children to officers.
Mangrum was arrested during her court hearing for being intoxicated.
When officers got out to the parking lot of the justice center, Carey and the children had driven off the premises.
Approximately four hours later, Carey returned to the justice center to attempt to post Mangrum’s bond, at which time she again left the two children unattended in the vehicle.
Detective Darrell Taylor observed the unattended children and escorted them from the parking lot into the justice center for their safety.
After gathering evidence, detective Taylor determined that the children were in fact abandoned by caretaker Carey and the Department of Children’s Services was contacted.
While removing the carseat and booster seat from Carey’s vehicle in order for DCS to transport the children, officers discovered a partially-smoked cigarette containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the passenger door pocket.
A further search of the vehicle uncovered multiple narcotics mixed in bottles, a syringe, drug paraphernalia and other pills organized in clear, plastic bags generally associated with resale.
Many of these harmful drugs and paraphernalia were within reach of the children left inside the vehicle.
Carey was charged with possession of a Schedule IV drug, possession of a Schedule II drug, possession of a Schedule VI drug, possession of a legend drug, child abuse (2 counts) and leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle (2 counts).
She remains incarcerated at the Macon County Jail on a $12,500 bond.
Carey is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on April 1 and April 29.
As of Friday, March 27, the children remain in DSC custody. Their mother, Ashley Mangrum, posted bond on the public intoxication charge and was released on her own recognizance.
