Claiming self defense, a 39-year-old Pinellas Park mother is pushing back against an arrest that charged her with aggravated child abuse.
Police claim the mother of four struck her 16-year-old daughter with a baseball bat, leaving the juvenile dazed and bleeding.
The defendant told the judge at a court appearance Wednesday that she was innocent of the charge. “I am not a child abuser”. Rather, the mother claims that her daughter attacked her multiple times and the victim was hit by mistake.
Police were sent out on a disturbance call to the mother’s Pinellas Park home. They arrived to see the victim bleeding from the head and the suspect still holding on to a baseball bat. The victim told the police that her mother went crazy during an arguement about doing the dishes and committed the battery on her.
The suspect denied this and claimed that her daughter walked into the handle part of the bat.
Initially held without bond, the judge took mercy on the suspect after the DEFENDANT’S mother offered to watch the victim and the defendant claimed that she had three other children at home with nobody to watch them. The judge set the bail at $15,000 and ordered no contact between the two parties.
A look at the defendant’s Pinellas criminal record shows multiple priors spanning almost 20 years for charges that include felony theft, worthless checks, drug charges and violations of probation among others. Ironically, she also had a contributing to the deliquency of a minor charge. If this newest allegation is true, she went from contributing to the deliquency of a child to actually harming a minor!
LEGAL ANALYSIS As it is now charged, aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison!
In addition, it is a level nine offense which means it scores so high that the defendant is looking at a mandatory prison sentence. Depending on how the state chooses to proceed, her criminal defense attorney may be able to claim self defense or negotiate a lower sentence with the state attorney or the judge. There could be parenting classes, anger management courses, counseling, jail and/or probation as possible plea alternatives.
Have you or a loved one been arrested for child abuse or a violent crime? Then call the St. Petersburg violent crimes defense attorneys at Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today! These former prosecutors are experienced trial lawyers.
The attorneys at Blake & Dorsten, P.A. handle all criminal and auto accident cases throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida including St. Pete, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Tampa Bay, Seminole, Gulfport, Kenneth City, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Palmetto and Madeira Beach.
To speak directly with your Pinellas criminal defense lawyers, click on the contact button or call 727.286.6141. Blake & Dorsten, P.A…when your case matters!