Police in Dubuque say two young children tested positive for both THC and methamphetamine while in the care of a local woman, leading to felony child endangerment charges.
Taylor M. Brandenburg-Paxton, 27, was arrested Monday night on a warrant charging two counts of felony child endangerment related to meth exposure, along with two counts of aggravated misdemeanor child endangerment. Police said the children involved are both under the age of 8.
Meth Use On The Rise
According to court documents, a child protection worker met with Brandenburg-Paxton on November 15 after receiving reports of ongoing drug use and unsafe living conditions in the home. During that visit, Brandenburg-Paxton admitted to using marijuana but claimed she did not do so in front of the children.
Less than three weeks later, on December 4, Brandenburg-Paxton tested positive for both THC and methamphetamine. The children were subsequently drug tested and also tested positive for the same substances, police said.
On December 29, Brandenburg-Paxton was informed of the test results. According to court records, she told authorities the children “likely” tested positive because they were sometimes left in the care of her cousin, whom she described as an active methamphetamine user.
Investigators noted that the charges stem not only from alleged drug use but from decisions that allowed children to remain in unsafe conditions.
Brandenburg-Paxton was arrested at 10:26 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of West Eight Street. She is expected to appear in court on the child endangerment charges, which carry significant penalties if convicted.
The children have since been removed from the situation as the investigation continues.
