March 11, 2026 – Englewood, FL
Two people were arrested after a juvenile in their care came into contact with fentanyl at LA Ainger Middle School.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 10, deputies responded to LA Ainger Middle School in reference to a student who was not breathing. As deputies arrived, they found the student unresponsive with the school nurse administering CPR. Through training and experience, deputies determined the student may be suffering from the effects of an overdose and administered one dose of Narcan, which yielded positive results. Charlotte County Fire & EMS then arrived and took over medical care, transporting the student to a local hospital.
The CCSO Narcotics Unit conducted an investigation to determine how the student came into contact with what was later determined to be fentanyl. Through investigative means, detectives learned that a caregiver by the name of Joshua Lee Sanders (10/23/1985) had a small container of fentanyl in the home, which the child had brought to school. Detectives learned that Sanders and another caregiver, Courtney Delaney (7/4/1991), had argued about the deadly drug being in the house prior to this incident on numerous occasions. The investigation revealed that the child had found the container on the bathroom sink in the residence and placed it into her backpack before heading to school.
At school, the student brought the container into the classroom bathroom and placed a small amount on her finger and then onto her tongue. The effects were near-immediate, with the student barely returning to class before losing consciousness.
“First and most importantly, I am glad to hear that the student will make a full recovery. This could have ended very, very differently if not for the fast actions taken by the school nurse and other staff, as well as my deputies. It is inexcusable and unforgivable that this child was able to access this poison so easily, and that’s why these arrests were made. I thank God that we were able to intervene before something even worse happened.”
Sheriff Bill Prummell
Sanders and Delaney were arrested on three charges of child neglect (one with bodily harm and two without bodily harm) each, due to other children in the home as well. Delaney’s bond is set for $25,000 and Sanders’ bond is set for $450,000.
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