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Mother gets year for abuse, neglect
Mom will spend time behind bars for near-drowning of toddlerDate published: 8/6/2008 BY ELLEN BILTZ A mother who threw her 3-year-old daughter in a pool and let the toddler sink to the bottom will spend a year in prison. "I love my children very much," Joy Miller Frank, 37, said just before Spotsylvania County Circuit Court Judge David H. Beck sentenced her to five years on each of the charges she pleaded guilty to earlier this year. He suspended four years and six months on each. Frank pleaded guilty to child neglect and third offense assault and battery on a family member in March. Frank's attorney, Eugene Frost, focused most of his evidence during yesterday's sentencing hearing on Frank's mental health problems. Frank suffers from bipolar disorder and alcoholism, expert witnesses testified yesterday. The incident that led to her charges last Aug. 6 occurred when she was intoxicated with a .26 blood alcohol content, according to evidence presented yesterday in court. According to a March plea agreement, Frank was playing in an outdoor pool at a friend's home with her 3-year-old daughter last summer. While playing, the toddler ripped Frank's shirt, so she angrily threw the girl into the center of the pool. She sank to the bottom. After realizing Frank was not helping her daughter, a 7-year-old girl went to the bottom of the pool to bring the toddler up for air, according to the agreement. Witnesses said the younger girl was not immediately breathing and her skin and lips were a shade of purple. Prosecutor Brian Boyle played the tape yesterday of the 911 call made after the child was lifted from the pool exactly a year ago. The 7-year-old was the only person outside when the pool incident occurred, but other adults inside the house called for emergency services and were able to revive the child as rescue workers came to the home, Boyle said. While the 3-year-old was en route to the hospital, Frank sat on the couch, drinking a beer, and, still angry, kicked her 1-year-old daughter across the kitchen floor, according to witness statements in the plea agreement. The incident with her younger daughter is what led to Frank's assault conviction. "But for the heroic actions of a 7-year-old girl, there would be a dead child in this case," Boyle said. "This would be a murder case"
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 8/6/2008
personality disorder
(posted by
riley6
, Aug. 7, 2008 11:15 am)
Bipolar? Alcohol? It sounds more to me like she has Narcassistic Personality Disorder. She's only concerned about herself and could care less about what her kids need. I hope she never gets her kids back. Next time she might kill them.
locked up does not help her
(posted by
Sometimes
, Aug. 7, 2008 10:26 am)
and why should we pay for her incarceration? She needs some mental help and she needs to stay away from the alcohol. No human being is a loser. Hate the behavior, not the person. Hopefully, her family will give her the support she needs to get the help she needs.
The problem is the judges
(posted by
Mandrake
, Aug. 7, 2008 7:58 am)
the lawyers and the social agancies. All of them failed in this case. She is not the issue, the government as usual is failing to protect those that cannot protect themselves. The children and their future is of paramount importance here, not the well being of this loser. She needs to be locked up forever and make license plates to pay for her keep.
cont
(posted by
My3CentsWorth
, Aug. 7, 2008 1:44 am)
hasn't addressed her issues and is still in denial or either doesn't care. Thank goodness I had a supportive family who wouldn't give up on me even after I blamed all of my problems on them and caused them so much heartache. I feel the for children of this woman because it is not easy being a child of a bipolar who won't get the proper treatment. Hopefully this will be a turning point in her life because most bipolars have to hit rock bottom before they will seek the help they need other than a pill.
each responsible for own actions
(posted by
My3CentsWorth
, Aug. 7, 2008 1:40 am)
I have suffered from bipolar for many years. While I have never gone to the extremes of this woman there were times I did things that could have gotten me locked up. Thankfully I found a wonderful doctor who realizes treating bipolar involves more than just a pill, it involves lifestyle change, recognizing when symptoms and getting a grip before they get out of hand, and avoiding all use of drugs and or alcohol in any amount as they bring on rapid cycling. This poor woman obviously hasn't addressed her i
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