A mother is accused of being intoxicated on the kitchen floor when she was also taking care of her three children. She is being charged with neglect.  

Lorie Renee Cullison, 40, Sandborn, was taken into custody on Friday, October 18, by Deputy Camron Frye of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department following an investigation led by Deputy Frye into a report of child neglect.

The investigation started on Monday, September 30, when Deputy Frye and Deputy Alan Jackson were dispatched to a residence in the Sandborn area after a family member of Cullison called in saying Cullison was passed out while watching her (Cullison’s) children. The caller reported when another family member arrived at Cullison’s residence, they said food that was cooking on the stove almost caught fire while Cullison was passed out.

When the deputies arrived, they learned a child had called a grandparent and asked to be picked up. After the grandparent arrived, a call was made to the sheriff’s department.

Deputy Frye reported that when they entered the house, Cullison was lying on the floor in the kitchen and exhibited signs of intoxication including yelling and severely slurred speech.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Deputy Frye, he noted he and GCSD Sgt. Bobby Pierce had been called to the same residence in late July for a similar situation.

Cullison agreed to take a breath test and Deputy Jackson reported she tested with a blood-alcohol concentration of .188 on a portable breathalyzer.

The children were left in the care of adult family members, Cullison’s husband arrived home and Cullison was not arrested that night.

Deputy Frye wrote, “I contacted DCS and advised them of the situation. Lorie Cullison was highly intoxicated when I arrived on the scene. Lorie was belligerent and verbally abusive. I did not observe any signs of burning food or any dangers to the child in the house, besides an intoxicated mother passed out on the kitchen floor.”

A criminal case was filed against Cullison last Thursday, October 17, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was booked into the Greene County Jail the next day, on Friday, October 18. Her bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She posted $400 and has been released.

When Cullison appears in Greene Superior Court for her initial hearing on Thursday, October 24, she will be formally charged with neglect of a dependent involving placing a dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent, a Level 6 felony.