Deputies: Woman's Drug Use Leads to Child Neglect Charge

A Dunedin woman is charged with neglect after a child in her care was found wandering outside unattended on Dec. 31.

Melissa M. Kempter, 35, was reportedly doing drugs inside her room with multiple people at Dunedin Cove Motel, and was unaware the child was missing, Pinellas County arrest records say.

The motel manager reportedly found the child in the parking lot near a busy street. 

Arrest records indicate that the manager knocked on Kempter's door, but no one answered.

When Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Kempter and several other adults had allegedly been using intravenous-drugs around the child and that pipes, needles, and spoons for cooking drugs were within the child's reach, according to the arrest record.

Kempter and the other adults used drugs to the extent that they were unaware the child had awaken and left the motel room, deputies wrote in the arrest records. 

Deputies noticed an IV drug kit, which included an IV syringe, needles, spoons and cotton swabs, sitting in the top of her purse. Kempter allegedly told deputies she knew about the drug kit, but deflected ownership to her "little brother," arrest records say. 

Deputies also report finding an oxycodone bottle prescribed to another woman inside her purse. The bottle contained a 25 prescription dosage pills of 800 mg Ibuprofen, which Kempter said her mother had given her for headaches, arrest records say.

Deputies referred the case to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Kempter is charged with felony neglect of a child, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor possession of drugs without a perscription. 

Kempter is awaiting trial in custody at Pinellas County Jail on at least $10,400 bond.