(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing woman who served three years in prison on three drug convictions from Stephens County has been charged in Payne County with child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine and driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance, all in Perkins.
Due to her criminal record, Ranielle Nicole Richardson, 29, could be given a four-year to life prison term if convicted of child endangerment by driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance while transporting her infant, court records show.
Richardson could be given an additional four-year to 20-year prison term if convicted of possessing methamphetamine as a subsequent offense, court records show. If convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance, Richardson could be given a one-year jail term.
Richardson, who was released from prison about a year ago, remains free on $10,000 bond on a three-count Payne County charge on which she is due to appear in court with an attorney on Oct. 21.
Richardson was arrested on Sept. 14 shortly after 3 p.m. after an employee at On-Cue in Perkins notified authorities that a couple were in the convenience store and “appeared to be under the influence of something,” Perkins Police Investigator Charles Danker wrote in an affidavit filed last week.
When Richardson’s car with an expired license tag was stopped on Kenworthy Street, “the female driver held a cup out the window that was leaking fluid onto the ground, and the female subject threw the drink on the ground at my feet — and stated she poked a hole in it,” the officer said in his affidavit.
Her male passenger “stated they just paid off a ticket for the tag and he was being honest with me and told me they were trying to ditch on me,” the officer said in his affidavit.
He “stated they were headed to get the tag right now, and I informed them they were traveling the wrong direction,” the officer said.
When the officer asked to see their identification, “Ranielle was very jittery and couldn’t sit still. Ranielle kept twitching and turning her head and opening her mouth, licking her lips,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
“I asked Ranielle when the last time she used any illegal drugs and she stated earlier. Perkins Chief of Police Bob Ernst asked how long ago and she stated four hours. I placed Ranielle under arrest for driving under the influence of drugs,” the officer wrote in his affidavit.
The vehicle, which her male passenger said they have had about a year, was still registered to a car dealership, had no insurance and the license tag had expired in August, the affidavit said.
“There was an infant child in the back seat on the driver’s side. Perkins Chief of Police Bob Ernst removed the infant who was starting to cry and allowed (the male passenger) to hold the infant,” the affidavit said.
When the officer searched the vehicle, he found “a small clear plastic baggy on the floorboard next to the passenger seat that contained a crystal substance,” the affidavit alleged. The officer “also located a straw with a white powdery substance in the infant’s diaper bag,” the affidavit alleged.
“Ranielle stated she used methamphetamine last night and that she orally ate the methamphetamine. I asked her if she uses crystal methamphetamine and she stated yes. I asked if the baggy was hers and she stated the baggy was hers, but not the straw,” the officer alleged.
“I asked about the infant and she stated that was her and (the male passenger’s) daughter and she just picked her up from day care,” although the infant’s father said that he took care of the baby today, the affidavit said.
“Ranielle then stated that the baby was with them all day,” the affidavit said.
The officer said that the crystal substance in the baggy field-tested as methamphetamine, the affidavit alleged.
After the vehicle was impounded, the baby and her father were taken by Perkins Deputy Chief Steve Hensley to McDonald’s to wait for a ride, the affiavit said.
“Ranielle requested to take a blood test because she thinks she can pass,” the officer said.
“I requested Perkins Fire First Responder Joe Barta come to the stop location and check Ranielle because she was sweating and she was talking quickly and jittery or excited with high adrenaline,” the officer wrote in his affidavit. Her blood pressure was 120/80, the affidavit said.
After she was transported to Stillwater Medical Center for a blood test for the presence of intoxicants, Richardson was taken to the Payne County Jail from which she posted bail the following day, court records show.
According to the state Department of Corrections, Richardson has three prior drug possession convictions from Stephens County, on which she was given one six-year and two 10-year concurrent prison terms in 2011. She was apparently released from prison in 2014.
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