Guilty pleas in Louisa toddler cocaine case

A Louisa County man and woman pleaded guilty yesterday in a child-endangerment case in which their two toddlers tested positive for cocaine.

Derrick A. Christmas, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect and to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, all of which are felony charges, said Louisa Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty McGuire.

Christmas was sentenced to three years in prison.

Brenda D. Quarles, 27, pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to six months in jail, McGuire said.

Quarles left the couple's young sons at home with a relative on April 16. The relative later noticed that the toddlers, then 3 years old and 16 months old, were sluggish, and one of them was vomiting, according to earlier testimony.

When the relative rushed the boys to Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, employees found cocaine and a prescription sedative in the boys' systems.

McGuire said he believes that the two boys inhaled some fumes while cocaine was being cooked to make crack.

When authorities arrived to search the home the next day, April 17, they encountered Christmas, who authorities say had been living there.

They apprehended him in the driveway after finding more than 20 grams of crack cocaine, a quarter-pound of marijuana and $1,600 in cash, authorities said.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .