A Nebraska woman is facing criminal charges after her 3-week-old baby suffocated and died while in bed with her.

According to the Wichita Eagle, 35-year-old Ashley Bean is accused of sleeping with her newborn son after drinking excessively on December 17.

“During the interviews it was determined that she was under the influence of alcohol to the point that she was unable to take care of her infant child,” said Lancaster County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Houchin.

Authorities allege she consumed at least eight shots of tequila, likely more, in the days preceding her son’s death. The suspect and an adult acquaintance were at the home at the time, according to police, and Bean is believed to have drifted to sleep while breastfeeding her son.

A blood-alcohol test showed she was at double the legal driving limit while at the hospital with her son. She was also reportedly slightly above the limit this week when she surrendered to police.

Houchin said the young victim died as a direct result of his mother’s intoxication.

“This isn’t a co-sleeping issue,” he said. “This is an issue pertaining to an adult who was intoxicated to the point they were unable to take proper care of their 3-week-old.”

A medical examination revealed that young Axel died of asphyxiation. His mother was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse in connection with his death, as reported by Fox News. She also faces pending DUI charges stemming from a traffic stop after her son’s death.

If convicted of the child abuse charge, she could face as much as three years in prison followed by 18 months of supervision. She could also be hit with a $10,000 fine.

[Featured image: Ashley Bean/Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office]