Mom arrested after child found with heroin at school

QUEENS, NY -- A Queens mother was arrested on Monday after her six-year-old son was found with heroin in his backpack at school.

Police say that 36-year-old Leah Pagano is responsible for sending her son to P.S. 209 in Whitestone with a box that contained eight glassine envelopes of heroin, as well as two straws and three pills.

The boy revealed the drug box to a school aide shortly after he arrived, which was mistakenly packed inside his book bag, according to Pagano.

"I am the only one who prepares my son's school bag and lunch," said Pagano in court documents. "I could not find my box with heroin inside. I was not sure if it was in his school bag and went to sleep. I can not believe I did this."

Pagano is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.

She was released without bail on her own recognizance and is due back in court on April 25th.