JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro woman accused after her infant son was hospitalized with injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison.
Liberty Yates Thompson, 22, entered a guilty plea to first-degree battery, according to a sentencing order filed June 9 in Craighead County Circuit Court.
Circuit Judge Randy Philhours sentenced Thompson to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, followed by 10 years’ suspended imposition of sentence. She received credit for 140 days served in jail. Court records show Thompson had been in custody since Jan. 28.
A charge of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor was nolle prossed as part of the plea arrangement.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gina Knight-Nelson represented the state. Public defender Jimmy Hood represented Thompson.
The case began Jan. 24, when an on-call detective responded at approximately 12:20 p.m. to St. Bernards Emergency Department in reference to an injured child. According to a probable cause affidavit, Thompson told police she had slipped and fallen in the snow while holding her 8-month-old son and dropped him down the stairs of her home.
Police reported the child had several other bruises on his head, legs and torso, which appeared to be of varying ages. The child was transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis for further treatment.
According to the affidavit, medical staff at Le Bonheur reported the injuries were not consistent with the fall Thompson described and appeared to be the result of intentional abuse.
In a Mirandized interview, Thompson admitted she initially lied and later stated she dropped the child in the snow after throwing him into the air on Jan. 22, causing him to hit his head from approximately 5 to 6 feet in the air, according to the affidavit. Thompson stated she did not initially seek medical attention despite seeing swelling on the child’s head.
The affidavit states Thompson later admitted she did not seek medical care because she was on probation and feared she would get in trouble. Thompson also admitted poking the child in the chest too hard while upset, causing bruising, and throwing a 2×4 during an argument with her boyfriend on Jan. 22, which missed him and struck the child in the head.
The Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline may be reached by calling 1-800-482-5964.
The Family Crisis Center, Inc. is a local resource available to help if you’re in need.
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