SUMTER, SC (Aug. 16, 2016) – A 23-year-old mother has been charged with child cruelty after four children tested positive for illegal drugs.
Officers with the Sumter Police Department were notified Wednesday by the state Department of Social Services, which was concerned about the safety of the children.
The children, who range in age from 1 to 7 years old, had been placed in the custody of a family member earlier in the month after one of them tested positive for marijuana. Since then, theremaining three children were tested and results were positive for marijuana and cocaine. DSS officials believe the mother continued to have contact with the children, who are now in a licensed foster care facility.
Susie Alexis Dinkins of 11 Gates St., Sumter, was charged Thursday with cruelty to children and is being held in the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center pending a $10,000 surety bond.
An investigation is continuing.
