Luling woman gets eight years for child abuse
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 13, 2006
By MOLLY DRYMAN
Staff Reporter
HAHNVILLE — Luling resident Simone Harris pled guilty and was sentenced Wednesday for the April 2005 second degree battery and second degree cruelty to a juvenile of her 22-month-old daughter.
Harris, 26, was sentenced to eight years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, with four of those years to be suspended.
According to St. Charles Parish District Attorney’s Office of Harry J. Morel Jr., Harris was ordered to attend anger management and parenting classes, and after release she will be on active probation for four years.
Harris was arrested on April 15, 2005 after her 22-month old daughter was brought to St. Charles Parish hospital by her aunt, Harris’s sister, throwing up blood.
After further testing, the child was said to be suffering from several fractures in her body and internal bleeding.
It was previously reported by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief of Investigations Maj. Sam Zinna that the child had several fractured ribs, internal bleeding and an impacted skull, which caused the child to be somewhat impaired.
Zinna also reported after the testing the child was transferred to Children’s Hospital, where it was realized by physicians the child was severely abused and determined that the injuries were purposely inflicted.
Harris was arrested and has remained in custody at the St. Charles Nelson Coleman Correctional Center.
Medgra Bailey, 39, of Boutte also pled guilty, on Wednesday to cruelty to the infirmed, exploitation of infirmed and forgery. Bailey received 10 years with the Department of Corrections, with two years suspended, and a repayment of $20,000 to her victim, according to the St. Charles Parish DA Office.
“No criminal behavior is tolerable, but these two crimes represent reprehensible acts of cruelty to member of society who are especially vulnerable to the unlawful acts of others,” said Morel. “Activity such as this will not be tolerated in this parish, and myself and my staff work diligently to see that these offenders are brought to justice.”
