Gainesville woman arrested for failing to treat children’s skin conditions while on probation for the same charges

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Latasha Cheree Neal, 36, was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm for allegedly failing to provide medical treatment for her children’s skin conditions; she was sentenced to four years of probation on the same charges after an October 2025 arrest.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that Neal is on probation with a requirement to bring her children to all annual medical appointments and follow-up appointments. However, the Department of Children and Families initiated a new investigation because both children reportedly have severe eczema again.

The investigation found that while Neal was in the Alachua County Jail between her arrest and her plea deal, the children received monthly treatment at a dermatology practice, and they were prescribed a medication that is administered once a month; a two-month supply of the medication is reportedly sent by mail at no cost, but the children’s caregiver must arrange for the refills.

The investigation found that both children “showed tremendous improvement” while Neal was in jail, but after she was released, she failed to refill the prescriptions or take the children to the recommended monthly dermatologist appointments; because the children were not treated, their eczema has reportedly gotten worse, to the same levels reported when Neal was arrested in 2025.

Both children are expected to have permanent scarring over large areas of their bodies because of the blistering and bleeding caused by the untreated eczema; a doctor reportedly advised that eczema this severe would be “extremely uncomfortable” for the children. The doctor said, however, that the eczema is “completely treatable” and would not be as bad as it is now if the children had received consistent treatment. The doctor said this is the worst case of eczema she has ever seen.

Post Miranda, Neal reportedly said she had been giving the children their medication since she was released from jail in February; however, the deputy noted that the prescription had not been filled since March. Neal reportedly said she has consistently applied hydrocortisone cream to both children.

The deputy asked Neal why she had neglected to provide proper medical care for her children over the past seven months, resulting in a substantial increase in the severity of their conditions, and she reportedly did not answer. Neal was reportedly adamant that she cares for her children, but when the deputy asked again why she had not provided proper medical treatment, she again did not answer.

Neal reportedly stated repeatedly that she had administered the children’s medication, but the deputy said this was not true because the prescription had not been filled. Neal reportedly said the children’s outbreaks could be from excessive mold and roaches in her residence, or they could be allergy-induced.

At the conclusion of the interview, Neal was arrested, and she has been charged with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm and two counts of violation of probation. She has three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent), and Judge James Colaw withheld adjudication of guilt on the previous two child neglect felonies. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $30,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.