Probation plus jail for woman who brought 2-year-old while drugs were sold to undercover investigator

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee woman who brought her 2-year-old child along while her boyfriend sold drugs to an undercover investigator was sentenced to probation plus jail time Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Jalyn House-Lister, 20, in July, pleaded guilty to three felony charges. Five other felonies were dismissed as a result of the plea deal. She was convicted of two counts of neglecting a child and one count of maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Jalyn House-Lister

In court Tuesday, House-Lister was sentenced to serve two years and six months' probation, along with three months in the House of Correction, ordered to report on Aug. 28.

She received a three-month jail sentence for both of the child neglect convictions, to be served concurrently, and was sentenced to 14 months in prison and 14 months' extended supervision on the drug trafficking place conviction, but that sentence was stayed, and House-Lister was placed on probation.

Prosecutors said the cocaine and heroin that was sold on Nov. 13, 2019 contained fentanyl -- deadly in tiny amounts.

According to a criminal complaint, on Nov. 13, 2019, the undercover investigator was in a vehicle with a confidential source near 2nd Street and Wright Street when a Nissan Altima pulled up. Prosecutors said House-Lister was a passenger in that vehicle, her boyfriend was driving and House-Lister's 2-year-old daughter was in the back seat. The undercover investigator said the driver asked them if they "partied," which he knew meant "use drugs," and he said they did. The driver then asked what they used, and the investigator said "both." The investigator then asked for a sample, and the confidential source went into the back of the vehicle, and later gave the investigator an off-white chunky substance believed to be cocaine to the investigator, along with the driver's phone number. The investigator then texted the driver so he would have his number. The complaint said the substance tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl and weighed .05 grams.

The next day, on Nov. 14, 2019, the complaint said the investigator arranged to purchase heroin, and the Altima pulled up near 14th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue. The investigator got into the back seat of the Altima and noticed the 2-year-old was walking around the back seat. The substance obtained tested positive for heroin and fentanyl and weighed 1.4 grams.

Ten minutes later, prosecutors said the Altima was spotted near House-Lister's apartment.

Three days later, on Nov. 17, 2019, the driver was arrested after prosecutors said he ran from law enforcement. A firearm was recovered, and the Altima was found running nearby. The complaint said investigators found cocaine and THC in the glove box.

The next day, on Nov. 18, 2019, investigators responded to an apartment near 14th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue, where House-Lister let them in. The 2-year-old child was also present. The complaint said House-Lister told investigators she had been dating the driver for two months and he stayed at her apartment off and on during the week. She said she was aware he sold drugs, and she said she allowed him to use her Altima. She said he had last been at her home prior to his arrest. She gave permission to search the home and said any drugs found belonged to the driver, according to the complaint.

The complaint said the following was found in the home:

.36 grams of a substance sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab for testing
.55 grams of a substance sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab for testing
2.43 grams of cocaine in House-Lister's bedroom
Jail discharge paperwork belonging to the driver
.40 caliber round under the mattress in House-Lister's bedroom
5.33 grams of a substance sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab for testing
9.42 grams of heroin
.22 caliber bullets in a shoebox
.22 pistol magazine in a shoebox
.40 caliber round in a shoebox
Firearm case in a kitchen cabinet