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Couple charged with giving baby suboxone

A Warren man and woman are behind bars on charges that he gave suboxone to a 2-month-old child who was going through withdrawals from her drug-addicted mother.

Brandon L. Quattrone, 37, 301 Park Ave., Apt. A, was charged by City of Warren police on Friday afternoon.

Police allege in the criminal complaint that Quattrone “did administer suboxone to a female child” — 2-months-old — and “did so because the child was suffering from withdraws (sic) from suboxone caused by use during the mother’s pregnancy as well as breast feeding.”

He has been charged with endangering the welfare of children and possession with intent to deliver — both felonies — as well as possession of a controlled substance.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Raymond Zydonik, police received a report from the Warren County Jail that Quattrone “and a female inmate, Bridget Putman, now known as the co-defendant” were in an argument on a jail phone call.

Putman, listed with the same address as Quattrone, was charged with endangering the welfare of children and possession with intent to deliver on Monday afternoon in this case. She is incarcerated at the county jail on a probation violation stemming from a 2017 case which resulted in convictions for theft by deception and retail theft.

Police were “advised” that Putman used “subutex or suboxone while pregnant with a now two month old female.”

In the criminal complaint charging her, police allege that she “did crush up suboxone and mix the crushed up suboxone with breast milk and formula which was then provided” to the child or “frozen for future use.”

Police in the affidavit detail a series of phone calls and messages between Quattrone and Putman on Jan. 27.

The first call — at 9:32 a.m. — started with a discussion of the infant’s “medicine.” Quattrone “advises that the victim hasn’t had the ‘medicine’ in ‘about five days or so.'”

He was recorded as saying he didn’t quit giving the substance to the victim but instead ran out. Putman responds, according to the affidavit, that “she didn’t understand why because a couple days ago ‘there was 9.'” Quattrone responds “because you got me on the (expletive) things,” noting it was a week ago “and that he had got to the point where he was taking ‘a half a one a day.’ Brandon (Quattrone) then states ‘now I’m not feeling too good myself.'”

The victim was taken to the emergency room sometime after that call.

Police say they obtained a search warrant for the records from the visit “which indicated that the two month old female victim was withdrawing from suboxone. It also indicated that (Quattrone) had told the ER staff that the withdraw was due to running out of breast milk.”

The current condition of the child is not detailed by police.

Quattrone and Putman then spoke again shortly after 9 p.m. on the recorded line.

Police say that Quattrone is the “primary caretaker” and said that the victim can be heard crting on the recorded line, per the affidavit. Putman asked if that is what the child has been doing for hours and Quattrone responds “days.”

Putman, per the affidavit, told Quattrone to “go get her some.” Quattrone declined, which kicked off an argument. “Bridget (Putman) yells ‘you can’t make her go without.'” Quattrone tells her he just left the hospital. Putman is then quoted as saying “you told them it was breast milk, you didn’t tell them you were given it to her.”

The call was terminated at that point.

A message was sent by Quattrone to Putman shortly after and police say Quattrone told her “after I sit in the emergency room for 8 hours wit her you think we can jut give her more drugs.” Putman responded by saying this is the last time and said she was going to tell the truth about everything, per the affidavit.

Quattrone responded by saying that the victim “can’t have the (expletive) no more…. Bridget if you think you feel horrible you should be the one who’s with her right now this is not easy and it had to be done there is no more (expletive) (expletive) to give her and it she gets it again we’re going to lose her.”

Police allege he sent another message shortly after midnight “stating that he should have just let the victim scream and went ‘on the hunt for something to extend the agony’ that she is going through.” He acknowledged in that message the risk in two months when there “is no breast milk or excuse for her (to) have it in her system.”

The affidavit charging Putman said that Quattrone was interviewed on Feb. 5 by police.

Quattrone “advised that prior to (Putman) going to jail on a probation violation, she crushed up suboxone and sprinkled small amounts into previously pumped breast milk, which was provided to the victim. THe remainder of the previously pumped breast milk that was purposely contaminated with suboxone was frozen and then given to the victim as needed by (Quattrone).

Quattrone “also admitted that the conversations previously mentioned were regarding providing suboxone to the victim,” police added in Putman’s affidavit.

Quattrone was arraigned on Friday afternoon by District Judge Zydonik and is being held in the county jail after he was unable to post $5,000 bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 10 at 9 a.m.

Putman was arraigned Monday afternoon and is being held at this docket on $25,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.

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