AUBURN – A woman was sentenced Thursday for allowing her 3-year-old daughter to live in an apartment where methamphetamine was manufactured.

Donna Pagnani, 23, of Lewiston received 364 days with all but 50 days suspended.

She will be credited for that time, which she has already served.

She will also be put on probation for six months.

Pagnani was living with Louis Rubino Jr., 25, and their daughter at a Sabattus Street apartment in Lewiston when police raided that apartment in January.

Both Rubino and Pagnani were initially charged with trafficking in the illegal drug, a felony, in addition to endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Pagnani agreed in May to a plea on the lesser offense with four other charges dropped in exchange for testifying against Rubino and another defendant linked to the illicit drugs.

Both defendants later entered pleas and their cases didn’t go to trial.

A prosecutor said Thursday there was no evidence Pagnani had any involvement in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Her only crime, he said, was not removing their child immediately from the scene of the drug-making.

The process of cooking meth can create toxic gases, which can be inhaled and cause harm. Several people, including Pagnani’s daughter, were evacuated from the apartment building after the raid and observed by medical personnel.


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