Follow-up to earlier story:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1427085/posts
Posted on 06/24/2005 8:48:08 PM PDT by SmithL
JACKSBORO, Tenn. -- One of three defendants in the abuse case of Baby Haley Spicer pleaded no contest today to three counts of aggravated child abuse.
Charlotte Claiborne, the live-in girlfriend of Haley's father, Tommy Joe Owens, also pleaded guilty to aggravated child neglect and some unrelated forgery charges.
Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton sentenced Claiborne, 31, to 20 years in prison -- 15 of which must be served at 100 percent. She will serve 30 percent of the remaining five years.
The abuse against Haley occurred last year, when she was 3 years old.
Investigators said Haley, now 4 years old, had suffered multiple injuries, including burns to her arms, legs, eyes and buttocks. Haley was placed into DCS custody and ultimately went to live with her mother, Rosemary Spicer.
Claiborne, Owens and babysitter Teresa Draughn were scheduled to go on trial Monday. Owens, 31, faces three counts of aggravated child abuse, and Draughn faces charges of not reporting the alleged abuse to authorities.
By pleading no contest, Claiborne did not admit guilt but acknowledged that the state has enough evidence to convict her of the charges.
Sexton found her guilty and sealed all evidence in the case because of the pending trial Monday of Owens and Draughn.
Assistant District Attorney General Scarlett Elliss said the plea has no impact on the trial.
She said prosecutors do not plan to call Claiborne to testify against Owens or Draughn.
Claiborne's attorney, Mike Hatmaker, declined to comment.
Owens and Claiborne were also charged with neglecting Haley and two other children living in the household.
The case resulted in several DCS employees being disciplined for mishandling initial reports of the situation in the home, and the drafting of new child abuse legislation by the General Assembly.
Follow-up to earlier story:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1427085/posts
She's going to live with her mother?
I suppose that's good. But why wasn't she with Mom in the first place? Is Mom's going to be any better? I hope that her mother doesn't have any loser boyfriends.
First thing that entered my head.
WHY wasn't Mom her primary carer from the get-go?
Something VERY strange going on here.
Let the little girl be adopted. If Mom wasn't there to notice what was happening to her daughter, then what the heck makes anyone think she'll be OK to raise this poor child? I would adopt her in a heartbeat.
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