A Hardy woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, a felony, after court documents revealed allegations of drug use while babysitting a nine-month-old relative.
Samantha Jo Brink, 39, was arrested on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and booked into the Sharp County Detention Center. The charges stem from an April incident in which a parent reportedly saw Brink smoking methamphetamine on a porch while she was caring for the child, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Court records state that a subsequent hair test conducted on the infant returned positive results for methamphetamine. Additionally, family members reportedly administered a home drug test to Brink, which also indicated the presence of methamphetamine, the documents allege.
Following the investigation, a judge found probable cause to issue a warrant for Brink’s arrest in early August. She remains in custody at the Sharp County Detention Center as of this report, awaiting a court date and bond hearing.
Further details are available in the probable cause affidavit, according to the court filings.