Bedell | Booking photo

Amber Bedell, a former marriage and family therapist who briefly reopened Singing Trees Recovery Center last year, was sentenced today to two years and eight months in state prison for child endangerment and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The sentence, handed down by Judge Kaleb Cockrum, was for four felony counts stemming from two separate incidents.

On Fourth of July last year, Bedell was arrested for DUI and child endangerment. It was at least her third DUI arrest since 2016 and her second for child endangerment, according to state and county records.

At the time, Bedell was on supervised probation for a 2020 conviction for felony DUI with injury, according to Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads.

On February 14, Bedell pleaded guilty to two felony counts of child endangerment and a single felony DUI charge. Her sentence factors in the 2020 parole violation, another felony, according to Eads.

After having her marriage and family therapist license revoked by the state in 2016, Bedell founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Pure Solutions Family Services, Inc., which offered wraparound services for adopted children and their families in Humboldt, Mendocino and Butte Counties.

Last year, via that nonprofit, Bedell reopened Singing Trees, a drug detox and rehabilitation center that had served Southern Humboldt County for more than three decades before the longtime owner retired and closed its doors in 2022. 

After only a few months back up and running, the recovery center closed again following Bedell’s most recent arrest. Former employees subsequently reported her to the state, alleging that she misappropriated government funds that she’d acquired through her nonprofit. One complaint reviewed by the Outpost accused Bedell of funneling government funds meant to help at-risk children into the renovation and reopening of Singing Trees. Bedell denied those allegations.

Singing Trees remained open briefly after Bedell’s arrest last year, though it has since closed its doors again. 

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PREVIOUSLY

• McKinleyville Woman Reports Two Vehicles Stolen, Ends Up Arrested Herself on Child Endangerment, Firearm Charges; Two Others Arrested
• After Closing Its Doors Late Last Year, Singing Trees Recovery Center Will Reopen Next Week Under New Ownership
• New Owner of Singing Trees Recovery Center Arrested for DUI and Child Endangerment, and in Odd Interview She Denies That the State Revoked Her Therapy License. (It Did.)
• Singing Trees Recovery Center Staff Apologizes for Owners’ ‘Unhealthy Choice’ Following Recent DUI and Child Endangerment Arrest
• Following Owner’s DUI Arrest, Former Singing Trees Employees Report Unethical Behavior to the State