Tucson television news reporter Som Lisaius and his wife have each been indicted on three counts of drug and child abuse charges, court records show.
The case stems from an investigation by the Oro Valley Police Department that began after the Lisaiuses took their infant child to a hospital in May. Tests at the hospital revealed cocaine in the 4-month-old's system, according to a police report.
The two each pleaded not guilty at an initial appearance on Monday. Their next court hearing is scheduled for July 28. The Lisaiuses were released on their own recognizance.
Som and Krystin Lisaius are each facing:
- One count of child abuse to a person under 18 years of age, causing death or serious physical injury, a class 3 felony.
- One count of possession of a narcotic drug, a class four felony.
- One count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class six felony.
The police report said Som Lisaius and his wife had friends over at their house on May 14, where they both consumed cocaine. The next morning Krystin Lisaius breast fed her child. At some point later the baby became lethargic and the couple took the child to Oro Valley Hospital. They then went to Banner-University Medical Center, where the baby tested positive for cocaine.
The police report said Som and Krystin Lisaius both admitted to detectives to using cocaine at the gathering at their house. Police recovered 1.8 grams of cocaine at the house in a search, the reports state.
The child is now in the custody of the Department of Child Safety.
Som Lisaius was a longtime news and crime reporter for station KOLD. He no longer works for the station, said Nick Ulmer, KOLD vice president and general manager. Ulmer declined to comment further.
Krystin Sorich Lisaius had worked at station KGUN two years ago for less than a year, said Jim Arnold, vice president and general manager, in a statement.Β
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