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Mother sentenced to 15 years in heroin death of daughter

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Mother sentenced to 15 years in heroin death of daughter

September 4, 2003

Melody McDonald

Knight Ridder

FORT WORTH, Texas _ After deliberating for about 10 hours over three days, jurors sentenced a mother to 15 years in prison Thursday for using heroin with her 15-year-old daughter hours before the teen died of an overdose.

Debra Gatlin Clair, 49, who has been addicted to prescription drugs for almost 30 years, wiped her eyes with a tissue and solemnly turned to her family seated in the gallery after state District Judge Wayne Salvant read the verdict.

For Clair's loved ones, who were hoping for probation and an opportunity for Clair to enter a drug rehabilitation program, the verdict was a blow.

"I just wanted her to get some help," said Sherry Kiefer, Clair's sister. "That is just so long. My heart is breaking. I just want to hold her."

Clair must serve one-fourth of her sentence _ about three years and seven months _ before she becomes eligible for parole.

For prosecutors, who had asked for a 20-year sentence in the death of teen-ager Tiffany Clair, the conviction was a precedent-setting victory. It marked the first time that the Tarrant County district attorney's office has tried and convicted a person who provided the drugs to someone who overdosed.

"I hope a message is sent to the community at large that parents shouldn't do drugs with their children," lead prosecutor Mitch Poe said. "If they do and we can prove it, we will put them to trial for it.

"Parents have to take responsibility for their actions. She took no responsibility for her daughter's death even though she admitted doing heroin with her. (Tiffany) never had a chance with this mother."

Defense attorney Jim Shaw said he was somewhat surprised by the punishment. Because the jurors deliberated so long, he was hoping they were struggling with whether to give Clair probation.

"I think a fair verdict would have been around eight years," Shaw said. He said he plans to appeal.

According to testimony, Clair, Tiffany and Bradley Ray Waltermire, the son of Clair's ex-boyfriend, shot up heroin at Clair's apartment in Everman near Fort Worth on May 3, 2001. About a week before that, Tiffany had been released from a mental hospital, where she was treated for drug addiction and attempting suicide.

At some point, Waltermire went home, but he called Clair a short time later, asking her to come get him. Clair said she tried to wake her daughter but left anyway.

When Clair and Waltermire returned, Tiffany was dead.

On Friday, the jury of seven women and five men convicted Clair of manslaughter for recklessly causing her daughter's death.

Waltermire, 23, has also been charged with manslaughter and remained free on bail awaiting trial.

2003 Sep 4