Mom sentenced for neglect

WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A West Terre Haute mother will not go to prison for endangering her children in a meth lab explosion.
Deidre Pine and her husband Michael were arrested following the explosion.

Their children were inside the home at the time.

Vigo County Judge David Bolk called this neglect case "as serious as you can get,” telling Deidre Pine she intentionally put her children in harm's way.

The explosion happened on East Johnson Street in June 2010.

Police said Deidre Pine's husband, Michael Pine was cooking methamphetamine, which sparked the fire.
Michael suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns.

The couple's three children, ages 7, 5 and 11 months were in the home at the time.

Monday, in court, it was addressed that not only were their lives put in danger, they saw their father burned.

His wife, Deidre, a former correctional officer, has plead guilty to three charges of neglect of a dependent.

The state asked Deidre to be sentenced to four years in prison.

Judge Bolk said in court it was a very difficult sentence to impose, but he would not send her to prison.

He said she had worked to get her children back and she's taken responsibility.

Instead, Deidre was sentenced to five years probation.

The judge ordered a mental health evaluation, random drug screenings and for Deidre to attend weekly meetings for substance abuse for two years.

Meanwhile, Michael Pine is still facing charges.

Michael did testify at the Indiana Statehouse earlier this year, in support of making pseudo-ephedrine available by prescription only.