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Former Missoula daycare worker avoids jail time for smoking meth on the job

Posted at 6:54 PM, Apr 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-22 23:16:58-04

MISSOULA – A former daycare teacher charged with smoking meth at the facility will serve no time in prison.

Autumn Heinz, 30, was sentenced to 20 years to the Montana Department of Corrections on Monday, but Judge Robert Deschamps suspended all that time.

Heinz received credit for 34 days she served in jail.

Missoula County prosecutors told MTN News Heinz was ordered to pay $461,866.19 in restitution for the damages caused to the YMCA Learning Center.

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Autumn Heinz

The YMCA CEO testified in earlier court proceedings that it cost them $500,000 to reopen the facility.

Heinz changed her plea to guilty in January for smoking meth while working at a YMCA daycare facility in April 2018.

Missoula police found meth and meth paraphernalia in what court documents describe as a “drug den” inside the daycare center.

Story by Melissa Rafferty, MTN News

Related: Missoula daycare worker caught smoking meth on job changes plea to guilty

Related: Missoula YMCA daycare classrooms clean, but other areas contaminated