The baby, near death with fentanyl and cocaine in her system, survived. Now her father has pleaded guilty to child abuse. | Crime

Her mother took the girl to Brenner Children’s Hospital. Doctors there found cocaine and fentanyl in the baby’s system.

Ramirez and his daughter almost died, Assistant District Attorney Kia Chavious said Monday.

Ramirez, 22, of Green Oaks Court, pleaded guilty Monday in Forsyth Superior Court to one count of felony child abuse, inflicting serious injury by reckless act or negligent omission. Judge Eric Morgan sentenced Ramirez, who had no previous felony convictions, to two years and one month to three years and six months in prison.

Chavious said the girl’s mother was at work on Sept. 3, 2017, leaving Ramirez in charge of caring for his daughter. Ramirez took the girl to a party. He and others used illegal drugs at the party. Chavious said the party was moved to his apartment, and the same people from the party brought illegal drugs into Ramirez’s home. Two people who had been at Ramirez’s apartment died from overdoses. The investigation into those deaths is still pending.

According to Centers for Disease Control, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever. It is approved to treat severe pain, especially advanced cancer pain. But there is also illegally made fentanyl that is linked to fatal overdoses. Its effects are similar to heroin and is sometimes mixed with heroin and cocaine, the CDC said.

It is so potent that accidentally touching or breathing a tiny amount could result in death.

It’s not exactly clear how or when Ramirez’s daughter ingested fentanyl and cocaine, but police found fentanlyl, cocaine and other illegal drugs in the apartment. Chavious said police also found marijuana grinders, digital scales and plastic bags containing drugs around the apartment. One plastic bag was found under the girl’s crib.

Ramirez was in critical condition and under sedation for some time, and the girl was sent to the pediatric intensive care unit at Brenner. She was in the hospital for about two weeks before she was released.

Chavious said the girl, who is about 2 now, is in good condition, but doctors will have to follow up with her for the next few years to see if there are any lingering effects from the cocaine and fentanyl.

Alan Doorasamy, Ramirez’s attorney, said Ramirez made a horrible mistake and was incredibly irresponsible. But, Doorasamy said, Ramirez has shown no pattern of child abuse and there’s no indication that this was malicious. He also said Ramirez was not a regular drug user or drug dealer.

“This is not a case where he burned cigarette butts into the child,” he said. “This is a case where he was irresponsible.”

Ramirez has the full support of his family and he has recently had another child, a girl, with his girlfriend, Doorasamy said. Ramirez has the potential to become a good father with parenting classes and the continued support of his family, he said.

He urged the judge to impose a lighter sentence because Ramirez has been punished enough. Doorasamy pointed out that Ramirez has spent nearly a year in the Forsyth County Jail awaiting trial and he has been away from his children.

A lengthy prison sentence will not help Ramirez become the kind of father he needs to become, Doorasamy said.

Chavious argued for a heftier prison sentence, noting that Ramirez’s daughter could easily have died.

“If this child had not been found when she was, we would not be here with the child alive,” she said.