WAUSAU – A couple suspected of giving a 10-year-old boy marijuana to smoke are facing felony charges in Marathon County.
Christopher S. Burger, 28, and Kathryn S. White, 31, who share a Wausau home, are each charged with child abuse, contributing the delinquency of a child and drug paraphernalia possession. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
According to court documents:
On Sept. 18, a Marathon County social worker spoke with a Wausau officer about possible child abuse involving Burger and White. The officer and social worker went to Burger and White’s Wausau home.
The officer found a small glass pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana and a large water pipe, commonly called a bong, also used to smoke marijuana. Burger was home with a 10-year-old and a 2-year-old child and admitted to smoking marijuana in front of the two children.
The social worker talked to the 10-year-old boy who said Burger had the boy try marijuana from the water pipe, which the boy called an “old fashioned pipe” on two separate occasions. The boy said the smoke burned his throat and made him cough. The boy told the social worker he had to take a drink of water to stop coughing.
When White returned home, she told the officer she had been in the room when Burger gave the 10-year-old the marijuana. She also said she would hold a 2-year-old child on her lap sometimes when White smoked marijuana.
Marathon County Circuit Judge Greg Huber set $1,000 signature bonds for both Burger and White during their initial court appearances Thursday afternoon. Both are scheduled for hearings on Nov. 22.
credit:wausaudailyherald.com