Children eat THC candy in ‘near fatality’: Police

SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) — Charges were filed last Wednesday against two sisters after it was discovered that children ingested THC candies, leading to their hospitalizations, according to a criminal complaint.

On June 24, Sharon police were called to the 300 block of Sterling Avenue for a 4- and 5-year-old child who were both unresponsive due to a possible poisoning. Authorities also found vomit on the floor by the children.

According to the criminal complaint, inside the apartment were sisters Cassandra, 33, and Charyssa Gera, 26, who are the mothers of the children. Reports said that investigators found marijuana blunts and other forms of possible drug paraphernalia.

After executing a search warrant at the home, the criminal complaint states that police reported finding loose marijuana, pre-rolled blunts, drug paraphernalia, a stun gun that could have been grabbed by the children and candies that contained THC.

Reports said that authorities determined that it appeared that the children had eaten a whole package of the THC candy. The nearly-empty bag of candy was found in a closet in the children’s bedroom, the complaint stated.

Police said the children were taken to Sharon Regional Medical Center before they were sent to a children’s hospital in Pittsburgh in critical condition.

Reports said Charyssa told police that the pre-rolled blunts were purchased at a marijuana dispensary in Michigan and brought back to Pennsylvania. Charyssa said they were only in the apartment for a short time before the children were found unresponsive.

Reports said that both children tested positive for THC and that one of the children had to be intubated and receive ICU care. According to the criminal complaint, the child had respiratory failure, so police described the incident as being a near fatality.

The criminal complaint said the other child also received ICU-level care.

Authorities said the incident was “preventable and the result of supervisory neglect,” the complaint stated.

According to court records, Cassandra is facing felony charges of aggravated assault of a victim who was less than 13 years old, endangering children, and misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and use/poss of drug paraphernalia. Charyssa is charged with one count of endangering children, a felony.

They were arraigned on Thursday, and their preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 2.

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