ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — A judge on Monday denied a request to release an Iowa woman accused of lying about her young daughter's cancer diagnosis.
Cass County District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Larson said Leatha Slauson's request for a bond reduction and pre-trial release was denied because she continues to pose a risk to the community. Her bond remains at $35,000 and she will continue to be held at the county jail, Atlantic radio station KJAN reported.
Slauson's attorney had requested that her client be released to live with her mother. But Larson called the charges "very serious in nature and assaultive in nature."
Slauson, 30, of Atlantic, is accused of telling her community last year that her 5-year-old daughter had terminal cancer. School officials contacted authorities after they became suspicious of the girl's medical records. An investigation later determined the child was not sick.
Slauson is accused of drugging her daughter during this time. Court documents say she inserted a feeding tube into the girl's stomach to administer cannabis oil. Slauson also collected thousands of dollars in donations for the girl's medical expenses, authorities said.
Slauson, who is not allowed to contact her daughter or her other children, has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, including child endangerment causing bodily injury and drug distribution to a person under 18.
A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 13. Her trial is set to begin Nov. 12.
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Information from: KJAN-AM, http://www.kjan.com
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