Mother convicted in baby's drug death is denied transfer

The Baltimore Sun

A Dundalk woman serving an eight-year prison sentence for giving her infant daughter a fatal dose of methadone failed in her bid yesterday to be transferred to a residential drug-treatment facility.

Gina M. Camponeschi, 36, told Baltimore County Circuit Judge Timothy J. Martin that she has passed two random drug tests in prison and is recovering from her heroin addiction.

"I've learned a lot about myself and my addiction, and I want to thank you for that opportunity," said Camponeschi, wearing a blue-gray prison shirt and jeans, her hair tied back in a ponytail. "I promise I will do everything in my power to succeed."

She requested a transfer to Gaudenzia at Owings Mills, a residential alcohol and drug treatment program, in lieu of prison time.

County prosecutor John Magee argued it was too soon for such a move.

"Killing her daughter and serving a year and a half in jail is not enough," he said.

Martin agreed, saying she could make another transfer request in nine months.

"I know you mean well and you're very sincere" when speaking about the attempt at recovery, Martin said. "But you've got to walk a little more of the walk before we let you go."

Adriana Jean Richards was less than 2 months old in September 2005 when her mother gave her methadone that had been prescribed to treat her own heroin addiction.

Camponeschi pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in May 2006. She said she gave her daughter methadone in an attempt to ease the baby's fussiness.

The child had been born addicted to heroin and cocaine because of Camponeschi's drug use during her pregnancy.

The infant spent her first 30 days in the hospital, where nurses used morphine and a diluted solution of opium to wean her off her drug dependency, according to a defense attorney and court records.

Twenty-three days after the baby was discharged into her mother's care, Camponeschi awoke at 2 a.m. to hear her daughter crying.

Thinking the baby was withdrawing from drugs, she gave the infant enough methadone to coat the child's tongue, believing "she was doing the same thing she saw the nurses do in the hospital," defense attorney Robert J. Feldman said at the July 2006 sentencing hearing.

Josh Mitchell

Crime

Police seek suspect in series of robberies of the elderly

Police are asking for help in identifying a suspect in three robberies of elderly victims after they left two area banks.

In each case, the suspect followed the victims and robbed them outside their homes after they got out of their vehicles.

The robberies occurred:

April 25 at 11 a.m. when a 76-year-old man went to the Bank of America in the 5300 block of Belair Road.

May 9 at 12:05 p.m. when an 81-year-old woman went to the Bank of America in the 7700 block of Harford Road.

May 30 at 10:50 a.m. when an 82-year-old man went to the Bank of America in the 5300 block of Belair Road.

Detectives said that when the victims returned home, they were approached by the suspect and robbed of an undisclosed amount of money.

The victims received minor injuries but did not require hospitalization.

The suspect is described as 17 to 25 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin beard and mustache.

Anyone with information is asked to call county police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7 LOCKUP.

Owings Mills

Recent high school graduate wins statewide essay contest

A recent graduate of Owings Mills High School won top honors in a statewide essay contest sponsored by a nonprofit group that seeks to educate the public about the costs and consequences of lawsuit abuse.

Andrew Schlossberg, who graduated this year from Owings Mills High, won a $1,000 scholarship for writing the first-place entry in the competition sponsored by Maryland Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. Schlossberg, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania, quoted Thomas Jefferson in his essay about the importance of jury service.

Other top winners were Jackee Okoli from the Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore and William Leonard from Damascus High School in Montgomery County.

The honorees were recognized this week at a ceremony outside the Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson.

Library

Bookmarks, cards to be given out to honor Ripken's induction

The Baltimore County Public Library will distribute commemorative bookmarks and baseball cards beginning Tuesday as part of the celebration honoring Cal Ripken Jr. before he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Library personnel will place the bookmarks and cards in books as customers check out materials in all branches. The bookmarks include facts from Ripken's long career as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Local libraries also have created special Ripken displays.

The bookmarks, baseball cards and displays are part of the countywide "Calebr8ion," which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 21 in Towson's Courthouse Plaza.

A parade on Washington and Pennsylvania avenues, featuring Ripken, will begin at 1 p.m., followed by a ceremony in the plaza.

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