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doxydad

(1,363 posts) Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:26 PM Jun 2014

Judge reneges on promise to deaf girl with 65 IQ, sentences her to 15 years in baby’s death

A deaf babysitter with an IQ of 65 from Sanford, Florida who accidentally let an infant in her care drown was sentenced to 15 years in jail on an aggravated manslaughter charge — even though the judge had promised that if she pleaded no contest, he would impose a sentence of five to six years. She said she knew something had gone wrong when the older child emerged from the bathroom saying, “Baby, baby, baby.” One of the children had turned on the faucet in the tub, and it had overflowed. Infant Byron was submerged in the tub, lying face down.

Paramedics were able to resuscitate the child, but he died in a hospital one week later.

Berry’s adoptive father, Thomas, said that his deaf daughter suffered from schizophrenia, and that her parents were methamphetamine abusers who had a history of bipolar disorder. Yet, Mariah was a loving, caring babysitter according to Byron’s mother, Erika Zaccour. In a letter she wrote to the judge, she said that Mariah was one of the few people who could coax Byron to sleep, and she “called me excited that my baby got his first tooth.”

“I truly believed she loved and cared for my kids and up until a few weeks ago still believed this to be an ‘accident,’” she added.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/16/judge-reneges-on-promise-to-deaf-girl-with-65-iq-sentences-her-to-15-years-in-babys-death/

I blame whoever put this poor creature in charge of another human being.

5 replies

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Judge reneges on promise to deaf girl with 65 IQ, sentences her to 15 years in baby’s death (Original Post) doxydad Jun 2014 OP

So sad all the way around. Ilsa Jun 2014 #1

I say the judge should go to jail... joeybee12 Jun 2014 #3

I sincerely hope this sentence is appealed. Arkansas Granny Jun 2014 #2

Sanford, Florida?! KamaAina Jun 2014 #4

More info savalez Jun 2014 #5

Ilsa

(61,694 posts)

1. So sad all the way around.

Reply to doxydad (Original post)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:31 PM

Jun 2014

Sorry, but you don't give total infant care responsibility to someone with such a low IQ. Someone should go to jail for her.

Rapists frequently get less time in prison, and those criminals are intentionally violent. This was an accident.

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)

3. I say the judge should go to jail...

Reply to Ilsa (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:38 PM

Jun 2014

The mother of the infant, while I don't think should go to jail, really showed poor judgment...

Arkansas Granny

(31,515 posts)

2. I sincerely hope this sentence is appealed.

Reply to doxydad (Original post)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:33 PM

Jun 2014

She should not have been left to care for two babies and she should not face prison time for an accident.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

4. Sanford, Florida?!

Reply to doxydad (Original post)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:54 PM

Jun 2014

This couldn't be the judge from Sanford, Florida, could it?!

savalez

(3,517 posts)

5. More info

Reply to doxydad (Original post)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 07:05 PM

Jun 2014

At Berry's plea hearing, Circuit Judge John Galluzzo suggested in open court that he might sentence her to just five or six years in prison.

A short time earlier, the judge in his chambers had promised defense attorney Tim Caudill that that is the sentence he would impose — five or six years — according to new paperwork Caudill filed.

It was because of that promise, Caudill wrote, that Berry entered her plea. But three months later, on sentencing day, June 3, the judge ordered her to prison for 15 years.

In paperwork filed Wednesday, Caudill complained that the judge misled him.

"The defendant is entitled to withdraw her plea because the plea was involuntarily made," Caudill wrote.

He also asked that the sentence be thrown out.

Source http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-baby-drowns-in-tub-appeal-20140616,0,7724017.story

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