An Oregon father is now behind bars after giving a bizarre excuse for drugging his daughter’s friends during a sleepover.
According to The Oregonian, the father, Michael Meyden, pleaded guilty to spiking the smoothies of three of his daughter’s 12-year-old friends with sedatives during a sleepover on Aug. 25, 2023. The man was charged with three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance.
When asked why he drugged the girls, the Oregon father said he wanted them to go to sleep by 11:00 p.m. that night.
“I was overly fixated on them going to bed, yes, that’s true,” Meyden stated in court. Noting the incident turned his world upside down, the man said, “My whole life is destroyed. Everything that was important to me up until that point is gone.”
In an affidavit obtained by NBC News, the three girls tested positive for benzodiazepine, which is a depressant drug typically prescribed for anxiety and insomnia.
The affidavit also revealed that one of the girls drank two cups of the smothes while a second girl drank one. Meyden reportedly got “upset” with the third girl when she drank “barely any” of the spiked smoothie. Shen then “pretended to be asleep” as Meyden frequently checked on the other girls while they slept in the basement.
The girl eventually texted her mother and other friends to be picked up. She told them what happened and the mother contacted the police the next morning.
The Oregan father’s daughter also tested positive for ingesting the drugs, but he was not charged for that.
Oregon Father Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for His Crimes
During his sentencing in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Monday, June 10, Meyden was sentenced to two years in prison. Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth issued a statement to PEOPLE about the incident.
“Mr. Meyden’s actions are inexcusable and reckless and required a punishment commensurate with the crime,” Wentworth shared. “The impact this event has had on the child victims, their families, and our community has been enormous.”
The Oregon father’s attorney, Jeff Turnoy also released a statement, revealing he is “incredibly remorseful and humbled by his conduct and choices.”
“He understands appropriately that he hurt a lot of people and is very regretful of all that,” Turnoy shared. “And his demeanor in court was authentic and genuine, showed nothing but sincerity in being apologetic and remorseful for his behavior.”
Meyden was indicted earlier this year. A Clackamas County Grand Jury heard evidence in the case and issued an indictment against Mr. Meyden for the following charges:
- 3 counts of Causing Another to Ingest a Controlled Substance
- 3 counts of Application of a Schedule-4 Controlled Substance to Another
- 3 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor