Infant ingests meth; Schuylkill parents face endangering charges

A 5-month-old male was found to have methamphetamine in his system, and now the parents have been charged.

State police at Frackville said Robert Rountree Sr., 49, and Christina Brennan, 34, both of New Philadelphia, are facing multiple charges following the investigation.

Troopers said on May 31 they were referred to a child endangering case by the office of the Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services. The incident involved a 5-month-old infant testing positive for methamphetamine.

Troopers said the investigation revealed that on May 20 the child became ill and a friend took the child to a hospital. A test confirmed the baby had ingested meth.

The investigation revealed that Rountree and Brennan were doing meth in a vehicle the day before. The meth was mixed in a water bottle cap.

On May 20, a water bottle was retrieved from the vehicle and used to make a bottle for the baby. The water was tainted with the meth. The baby then became ill.

Both Rountree and Brennan have been charged with aggravated and simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.

On Monday, Rountree was arraigned before District Judge James Reiley of Pottsville, and committed to the county prison after failing to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

Troopers said Brennan is currently an inmate in the Centre County prison in Bellefonte, on unrelated charges.

She will be arraigned on the new charges at a later date.