Babysitter accused of stealing prescription drugs

A woman has been charged for allegedly stealing prescription drugs from her family members while she was babysitting their children.

Sandy Michelle Dennis, 42, is charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and misdemeanor theft. If convicted, she faces a possible five-year prison sentence and could be fined more than $50,000.

Police arrested Dennis on Friday after finding prescription pills and clothes missing from her family member's home. Dennis had been watching the family member's child and after she left, the family member noticed shoes and clothes missing from the home. A friend of the family member also noticed 31 Vimpat pills, anti-epileptic prescription drugs, missing, as well as 66 Trazodone, antidepressant, pills missing. 

One woman went to Dennis' home and got the shoes and clothes back. Inside the bag of clothes were nine of the antidepressant pills, but no anti-epileptic pills, according to charging documents.

When officers went to speak with Dennis, she agreed to speak with them without an attorney, police reports state. Dennis reportedly said she had taken the clothes home to wash them for her family member, but denied taking the pills. Dennis said she wouldn't have taken the Trazodone because it is a sleep aid, she allegedly said. 

Prosecutors requested Dennis' bail be set at $500, but Cascade County District Judge John Parker set bail at $250, meaning she will be able to post bond with about $30. Her family was on hand at the hearing, and her son asked the judge for a low bond so she could return to help around the home.