Manatt

As the result of an investigation conducted by the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force and the State of Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, a Marshalltown woman is facing a total of nine felony charges over allegations that she unlawfully obtained prescription drugs while working as a nurse at the local hospital and endangered a child resulting in bodily injury.

On Tuesday, Amanda Manatt, 35, was taken into custody and charged with the following criminal offenses: eight counts of unlawfully obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription drug (Controlled Substance Schedule I, II, III), each a Class C felony, child endangerment resulting in bodily injury and tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to a series of criminal complaints, Manatt allegedly used her position as a nurse to obtain fentanyl on multiple occasions under the names of patients, as well as morphine on two occasions and dilaudid on one occasion during the winter months of 2023. She is also accused of creating false entries to conceal the theft.

The child endangerment charge stems from an instance where the minor victim of a dog attack came to the emergency room with “badly mauled” legs and was crying out in pain. Instead of administering pain narcotics, Manatt is alleged to have diverted them and kept them for herself.

Manatt was booked on a $14,000 cash only bond, which has since been posted. Defense Attorney Chad Frese made an appearance on Manatt’s behalf, and her preliminary hearing was waived.