At a Glance
- Alesha Marie Martin, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in Nevada state prison after pleading guilty to poisoning her 14-month-old son with crushed prescription pills.
- She admitted giving the child clonidine-a blood-pressure drug-by mixing it into yogurt and drinks on multiple occasions in May.
- The infant suffered near-fatal episodes requiring intubation in Utah hospitals.
- Why it matters: The case highlights how covert poisoning can masquerade as mystery illnesses, pushing hospitals and police to dig deeper when tests don’t add up.
A Nevada mother who repeatedly slipped prescription medication into her baby’s food has been handed a maximum 10-year prison sentence, authorities announced.
Alesha Marie Martin learned her fate in Washoe County’s Second Judicial District Court on January 13, one day before the sentence became public. She will be eligible for parole after serving four years.
Guilty Plea and Charges
Martin, 25, pleaded guilty to one felony count of willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water or medicine, a charge that carries the decade-long term. The plea resolved multiple original counts that included felony child abuse and neglect.
The investigation began in May after doctors at two states flagged a 14-month-old boy-Martin’s son-who kept arriving at emergency rooms with no clear cause for his sudden medical crises.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May (multiple dates) | Martin administers crushed clonidine to child inside family home and hospital rooms. |
| May 14 | Child hospitalized in Utah with bradycardia, hypotonia and hypothermia; intubated. |
| May onward | Washoe County Sheriff’s Office launches probe after hospitals report “unexplained emergencies.” |
| January 13 | Martin sentenced to 10 years; eligible for parole in 4. |
According to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the boy endured:
- Several emergency admissions in Nevada and Utah
- Toxicology screens that ultimately revealed unprescribed medication in his system
- One episode doctors classified as a “near-fatality,” requiring a breathing tube
Method and Confession
Detectives determined the source of the drugging was “within the family home.” Martin later confessed to crushing two clonidine tablets, stirring the powder into yogurt and drinks, and feeding the mixture to her son on a staggered schedule.
Charging documents cited by local outlet KSL state Martin told investigators she “had been dosing every six to seven days” and spaced it out “so she did not hurt” the child.
Clonidine is prescribed primarily for:
- High blood pressure control
- ADHD symptom management
In infants it can dangerously slow heart rate, drop body temperature and reduce muscle tone-exact symptoms clinicians recorded.
Sheriff’s Reaction
Sheriff Darin Balaam praised the coordinated response:
> “The work required to bring cases like this forward for prosecution demands patience, precision, and a deep commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
He added that detectives, medical staff, child-welfare partners and prosecutors together “helped ensure the child’s safety and accountability.”
Court Outcome
- Sentence: 10 years, Nevada Department of Corrections
- Parole eligibility: After minimum 4 years served
- Plea: Guilty to one Class B felony poisoning charge
- Remaining counts: Dismissed per plea agreement
Where to Report Abuse
Authorities urge anyone suspecting child abuse to contact:
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)
- Website: www.childhelp.org
Support is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages; calls are confidential.
Key Takeaways:
- Multiple unexplained hospital visits prompted toxicology testing that uncovered covert poisoning.
- Martin’s confession and guilty plea closed a case spanning two states and several medical centers.
- The 10-year sentence underscores Nevada’s strict penalties for intentionally adulterating food or medicine given to a child.
