Mich. court: Pregnant mom’s drug use not child abuse

Sturgis — The Michigan appeals court says the state’s child-abuse law doesn’t apply to unborn babies.

The court threw out the conviction of a woman who used methamphetamine during her pregnancy. Melissa Jones’ son weighed less than 4 pounds despite being delivered at full term in Sturgis in St. Joseph County.

In a 3-0 decision released Friday, the court says Michigan law refers to acts that harm a “child” but not a fetus. The court says Jones’ prenatal drug use is not a crime under that law.

The 30-year-old Jones was sentenced in 2015 to at least three years in prison.