BLADEN COUNTY — Two Elizabethtown residents are now facing felony charges under North Carolina’s new law criminalizing the exposure of children to illegal drugs, according to a news release from Sheriff James A. McVicker.
The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office announced that Shiana Di’Julia Roden, 39, has been charged with four counts of Exposing a Child to a Controlled Substance and four counts of Child Abuse. She is being held at the Bladen County Detention Center under a $60,000 bond.
Her charges stem from the same investigation involving Bradley Senecal, 53, who was initially arrested on December 31, 2025, and charged with attempted first‑degree murder following a domestic altercation. Five children, ages 5 to 12, were in the home at the time of the incident.
Children Tested Positive for Multiple Illegal Drugs
Following the domestic incident, investigators requested forensic interviews for all five children. Interviews were conducted by Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center, where disclosures were made about illegal drug use occurring inside the home while the children were present.
Deputies then obtained hair‑follicle testing through a licensed medical provider. According to the Sheriff’s Office, four of the five children tested positive for exposure to multiple illegal drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine.
First Use of New Felony Child‑Exposure Statute
The charges against Senecal and Roden fall under G.S. 14‑318.7, a new North Carolina statute that took effect in December 2025. The law makes it a Class H felony for any person who “knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life” exposes a child under 16 to a controlled substance.
Sheriff McVicker said this is the first time Bladen County investigators have applied the new law, which was created to strengthen protections for children living in unsafe environments involving illegal drugs.
Senecal remains in custody under a $200,000 bond.
Agencies Involved
The Sheriff’s Office credited the assistance of:
- Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center
- Bladen County Department of Social Services
Both agencies supported interviews, child‑safety assessments, and the ongoing investigation.
© 2026 BCDollarSaver.com. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment