25-Year-Old from Carinthia Sentenced to Prison: Drug Dealing During Maternity Leave

Verdict: Two Years in Prison, Partially Suspended

The court imposed a two-year prison sentence on the 25-year-old, with part of it suspended on probation, coupled with a therapy requirement. This is intended to give the young mother the opportunity to address her addiction and life situation in parallel with serving her sentence.

The 40-year-old co-defendant received three years of unconditional imprisonment. According to information from the proceedings, he lives in Austria without a residence permit and now faces renewed deportation. The criminal trial thus ends very differently for the couple.

Drug Price and Business Model in Villach

In Villach, a gram of cocaine is reportedly traded for around 100 euros. The investigators had surveilled the couple over an extended period before securing the phone conversations as evidence and filing charges.

The case sheds light on the question of how easily young women can be drawn into existing drug networks. The relationship with the older partner and financial dependence played a central role in the trial, as emerged from the proceedings.

What Will Happen to the Convicted Woman's Child

Legal experts point out that suspended sentences with therapy requirements are frequently applied in first-time narcotics convictions. The goal is to treat the underlying addiction and prevent a return to crime.

It initially remained unclear what will happen to the convicted woman's child. In such cases, the youth welfare office and the guardianship court decide on further custody arrangements while the mother begins serving her sentence or fulfills the probation requirements.

The defense announced it would review the verdict. Should the sentence become final, the 25-year-old would have to serve part of her prison term while simultaneously entering therapeutic treatment.

The trial has attracted attention in Carinthia also because it links the image of an apparently orderly young family with the reality of organized drug crime. Investigators emphasize that tips from the public are often crucial in uncovering such structures.