Heather M. Oakes, a Sequatchie County, Tenn., mother of four accused in October of giving her then-11-month-old infant boy vodka in his bottle of formula, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Sequatchie County Circuit Court records show The Sequatchie County, Tenn., mother of four accused in October of giving her 11-month-old boy vodka in his baby bottle has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Heather M. Oakes, 28, pleaded guilty to a class B felony charge of criminal attempt to commit aggravated child abuse, reduced from the original class A felony charge of aggravated child abuse. Oakes entered the plea on April 14 before Circuit Court Judge Thomas Graham, court records show.
Oakes was charged in October after authorities were contacted by officials at Erlanger Sequatchie Valley in Dunlap about a baby being brought in by ambulance suffering from alcohol poisoning. Sequatchie County detective Jody Lockhart said during the initial investigation that the baby was transferred to Children's Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga in critical condition.
Investigators in October found about 2 ounces of suspected vodka in the 8-ounce baby bottle seized by investigators. It was unclear how much was in the bottle to begin with, authorities said. Oakes contended the poisoning was accidental when vodka was placed in the bottle instead of water.
The baby is one of Oakes' twins, according to authorities. Oakes also has two older children, a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old. The other children were not involved in the investigation, according to officials.
Oakes' prison sentence is not divided with probation, according to 12th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Steve Strain. Oakes was sentenced as a range 1 offender, meaning she will become eligible for parole after she serves 30 percent of her sentence.
Strain said the baby bottle tested positive for alcohol and a test at the hospital showed the baby boy had a blood alcohol level of .51. The legal limit for intoxication is .08.
"I've never prosecuted anyone for DUI that's been that high," Strain said of the baby's blood-alcohol level. "I've never had anybody [in a case] alive at .51."
Emergency medical officials in Sequatchie County who answered the call at Oakes' home on Lewis Chapel Mountain likely saved the baby's life in rushing him to the nearest facility for treatment, he said.
A woman who has been taking care of the baby appeared in court last week to report on his condition.
"The little boy is doing OK," Strain said Friday.
The woman is also taking care of his twin, who also was reported to be healthy, he said. Custody issues regarding Oakes' four children are being handled by the Sequatchie County Juvenile Court office and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.