A southern Scott County man has been charged with neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury after he reportedly gave his 1 1/2 year old niece a vape pen containing THC to inhale.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis (marijuana).
Austin Scott Knowlton, 27, of the 5800 block of S State Road 203, near the Scott-Clark County line south of Lexington has been charged in Scott Circuit Court with a felony count of neglect of dependent causing bodily injury.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred Saturday, April 25, at the Knowlton residence.
According to Scott County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Milligan, Scott County Department of Child Services caseworker Robert Williams was notified by the Baptist Health Emergency Room in Jeffersonville about a case of possible neglect after a young child inhaled a THC vape pen.
Williams met with the child’s mother, Amber Knowlton and her boyfriend Zachary Melin who told the caseworker that Amber’s brother, Austin Knowlton, had given the victim the vape before she inhaled it.
After the young victim had been medically cleared around 2 a.m. April 26, Williams and Deputy Milligan met with the couple at their home.
According to the probable cause, Melin said he as getting the victim and the other children ready for bed he notice that a nicotine pouch container had fallen out of his pocket and that the young victim grabbed it.
Austin Knowlton, who was sitting next to the victim, said he would retrieve the nicotine pouch container from the child.
According to the court document, Knowlton then told Melin “Watch this” and handed the child a THC vape pen which the young girl placed in her mouth and began to inhale until the pen deactivated. The youngster then began to cough until she vomited. The child then passed out and Melin contacted the child’s mother who was at work and was instructed to take the child to the E.R.
Melin later told authorities that Knowlton told him that the device contained “weed” before stating it was “just nicotine”, according to the probable cause. Melin also told authorities that his girlfriend’s brother assists him with watching the children and he as doing so when the incident occurred.
Austin Knowlton was booked into Scott County Jail at 4:48 a.m. April 26. Scott County Prosecutor Chris Owens charged Knowlton on April 30. Scott Circuit Court Judge Jason Mount issued a no contact order against Knowlton and set his bond at $50,000.
As of the Times press deadline, Knowlton remains incarcerated.