FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A mother is behind bars just days after her daughter and a classmate allegedly brought marijuana-laced gummy candies to school in Coconut Creek.
Coconut Creek Police arrested 33-year-old Christine Arguelles, Wednesday, two days after her 14-year-old daughter and her daughter’s 13-year-old classmate allegedly brought marijuana-laced gummy candies to Lyons Creek Middle School.
According to the arrest affidavit, when police, along with the principal of Lyons Creek Middle School, arrived to her home, they overheard Arguelles yelling at her daughter, “You messed everything up! You thought you would make some money, and now, look what happened!”
Once inside, the police report said, officers found 86 packets of THC-laced gummies inside of a refrigerator, “In plain view, inside of a box. A box where her 14-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son had access to.”
Arguelles appeared before Broward County Judge Michael Davis, Thursday, where she was charged with possession of THC with intent to sell, child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Since she has another child, an 8-year-old, Arguelles was charged with two counts of child neglect, according to the report.
She is being held on $117,500 bond.
Upon learning of her bond, she pleaded before the judge to lessen her bond due to alleged financial difficulties.
“I just recently moved. I’ve been under a lot of stress,” said Arguelles. “I really would plead with you to really work on the bond so I can move from here and I can get things situated and I can hire my attorney and get all the funds together. It’s going to be very difficult with such a high bond at the moment, and I plead with you and I would ask you.”
Despite her plea, her bond remained unchanged.
“I understand, ma’am, and you’re going to have the opportunity to have a bond hearing with your division judge,” explained Davis. “For today, your bonds are going to remain the same.”
Arguelles’ daughter was arrested, Tuesday, and also charged with possession with intent to sell. Her daughter’s 13-year-old classmate was also arrested and given the same charge.
According to police, her daughter took more than a dozen of the THC-laced gummies to school, selling them for $10 each. The police report specifically states that she convinced one of her classmates to try to sell six packs of gummies.
Officers said they found over $100 in her backpack.
Three students ended up sick due to ingesting the gummies and had to be evaluated by paramedics. One of these students, a 15-year-old girl, even had to be transported to the hospital.
The school’s principal Horace Hamm sent a note to parents which read, “The safety and well-being of our students are always our highest priorities. I encourage you to discuss with your child the danger of these items, which are disguised as candy, and the importance of making good decisions.”
A dependency hearing was held before Judge Kenneth Gillespie, Thursday afternoon.
At the hearing, the custody of her children was temporarily revoked while her criminal case moves forward. The custody of the teen who was arrested goes to the maternal aunt and custody of her younger son goes to the childrens’ father.
Arguelles has an extensive rap sheet. Her criminal record includes an arrest in 2009, two counts of child neglect, and a history of being under investigation by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). A few years ago, Arguelles was investigated by DCF after being accused of using cocaine inside of her house in front of her children.
The judge ordered a substance abuse screening for the 14-year-old girl who remains at a juvenile assessment center.
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