Ravenna man arrested for intentional child abuse and causing children to ingest drugs.

Update: This article has been updated due to the children’s mother being arrested on the same charges.

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A Ravenna couple were arrested on the evening of Friday, July 10, 2020, on a Buffalo County arrest warrant that was signed nine days prior.

Jacob Freidt, 29. Photo via Buffalo County Jail.

Justeri Sleicher, 31. Photo via Buffalo County Jail

In an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant 29-year-old Jacob Freidt and 31-year-old Justeri Sleicher are alleged to have allowed children aged 6, 5, and 2 in their care to ingest both methamphetamines and cannabinoids. They also allowed the children to witness domestic violence in the house.

Court records say that on May 27, 2020, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) generated an intake in regards to domestic violence and drug use on Alba Avenue in Ravenna.

On May 29, 2020, officers from the Ravenna Police Department along with a DHHS Children and Family Services (DHHS CFS) specialist went to Freidt's & Sleicher’s home to investigate the intake and developed a safety plan with the children's mother.

On June 17, 2020, the DHHS CFS specialist received notification that drug use and domestic abuse was reportedly still happening in the home. On June 19, a hair sample was taken from each of the children.

The results from the hair sample tests were received six days later for two of the children. The six-year-old tested positive for exposure to cannabinoids and the 5-year-old tested positive for exposure and ingestion of cannabinoids.

One day later the results from the hair sample of the 2-year-old were received and they were positive for exposure and ingestion of cannabinoids and exposure to methamphetamine.

The children were removed from the home on June 30, 2020, and placed in the custody of DHHS.

An arrest warrant was issued for the children's father and mother on July 1, 2020.

On the charge of Felony Child Abuse (Class 3A Felony), Freidt and Sleicher both face a possible maximum of five years imprisonment. On the charge of Causing a Child to Ingest Methamphetamine (Class 1 Misdemeanor), Freidt and Sleicher both face a possible maximum of one year imprisonment.

They are currently being held without bond at the Buffalo County Jail.