Judge Rules Pills Given to Pregnant Tampa Woman Caused Miscarriage

John Andrew Welden was charged with tricking his pregnant ex-girlfriend into taking pills that caused her to miscarry.

A federal judge ruled that the pills a Tampa man tricked his pregnant ex-girlfriend into taking is what caused her to miscarry.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara made his ruling Friday after two days of testimony.

Sentencing for John Andrew Welden for tampering with a consumer product and conspiracy to commit mail fraud had been scheduled for December. But Lazzara delayed the sentencing amid concerns over whether the pill caused the miscarriage.

Prosecutors say Welden forged a signature last year on a prescription for a pill used to induce labor. He relabeled a pill bottle "amoxicillin" and told his then-girlfriend to take the pills.

Welden admitted in a plea agreement that he forged the signature of his father, who is a Tampa-area obstetrician.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 27.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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