Oregon day care worker gets 21 years for drugging kids with melatonin so she could tan, workout

An Oregon woman accused of drugging kids at her day care so she could go to the tanning bed and work out, was sentenced to to 21 years and four months in prison on Friday.

January Neatherlin was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in February to 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of third-degree assault, The Oregonian reported.

The 32-year-old was arrested last year after police found seven young children unattended at her unlicensed day care Little Giggles, KTVZ-TV reported. According to authorities, Neatherlin drugged the children with sleeping-aid melatonin before leaving the facility to tan and work out.

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Bend police began watching Neatherlin last March after her former boyfriend and a former roommate reported her behavior. Neatherlin reportedly told parents they couldn't drop off or pick up their kids during 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., which was reportedly "nap time," the Oregonian reported.

Police checked records at Cross Fit and Tan Republic and found that Neatherlin typically visited the businesses during the children's "nap time," according to the Oregonian.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby said Neatherlin's behavior created lasting damage for the families who trusted her to watch their children. Parents reported that their children still struggle with sleeping issues.

"There is a pattern with you of lying repeatedly, of repeatedly putting children at risk," Ashby said Friday, KTVZ reported.