YAKIMA, Wash. – A couple will spend time in federal prison for their connection to a child’s death from fentanyl, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Samantha Marie Tainewasher, 39, of Wapato was sentenced on one count each of Involuntary Manslaughter and Use of a Communications Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony.
Her partner, Calvin James Hunt, 52, of Toppenish will spend two years in federal prison on one count each of Involuntary Manslaughter, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Use of a Communications Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony.
The two were convicted on Nov. 16, 2023 following a jury trial and will both spend three years federally supervised following their release.
Court documents say Yakama Nation Police were called to Tainewasher’s home on Mar. 29, 2020 to find an unresponsive 15-month-old child. The child was brought to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, with a following toxicology report stating that fentanyl was the cause of death.
The FBI took Hunt’s phone during the investigation. In a video recorded two days prior to the incident, meth, a fentanyl-laced pill and drug paraphernalia could be seen on Tainewasher’s bed.
Facebook records also showed that the two bought and sold heroin, meth and pills. Tainewasher had also posted to Facebook acknowledging her addiction and drug use led to her son’s death.
“This case is incredibly tragic and heartbreaking,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “A 15-month-old child, whose parents are members of the Yakama Nation, ingested a deadly amount of fentanyl while in the care of his mother, who was just a few feet away. No sentence will be able to replace the loss of life of this young victim. The fentanyl epidemic continues to claim lives and inflict havoc on families from all walks of life.”
