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Parents convicted in child-abuse case Date published: 5/9/2009
BY KEITH EPPS A Stafford jury last night recommended prison terms for two parents after deciding they were responsible for their infant son's crippling injuries. Brandi L. Blanken Wallace, 28, was given a total of 7 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of child abuse and unlawful wounding. Joshua Scott Wallace, 33, was convicted of child abuse and got a recommended sentence of two years and six months. The minimum sentence for child abuse is two years. Judge Charles Sharp will formally sentence both Wallaces on July 27. The child, also named Joshua Wallace, was 10 weeks old on Dec. 30, 2005, when he was flown to MCV Medical Center in Richmond with skull fractures, a broken clavicle and severe retinal hemorrhaging. The child nearly died and has permanent brain damage, according to the evidence presented during the three-day trial. He eats through a feeding tube and cannot walk. The parents claimed that Brandi Wallace dropped the baby onto the floor during an epileptic seizure. Two doctors testified in detail that the extensive injuries suffered by the child could not have occurred during such a fall. Prosecutor Eric Olsen argued to the jurors that Brandi Wallace hurt the child and her husband tried to cover it up. He called the parents' explanation for the injuries "ridiculous." Joshua Wallace was the only defendant to testify. He said that as far as he knew, the baby was fine until he was dropped. The Wallaces are still married, but are no longer together. Brandi Wallace had a baby with another man two weeks ago. Vanessa Jordan, Brandi Wallace's attorney, argued that the dropped-baby story was plausible. A neurosurgeon put on by the defense during the trial suggested that the baby had issues at birth that were previously diagnosed. He also disagreed that the child had skull fractures. Jordan said Brandi Wallace has two other children who are fine and that the suggestion that she intentionally hurt Joshua "makes no sense." Price Koch, Joshua Wallace's attorney, argued that his client did "everything a father was supposed to do" when he realized the child was hurt. He said the prosecution had only a medical theory. Olsen replied: "Baby Joshua is not a medical theory. He's a child who was horribly abused by his parents." At one point it appeared the jury might not be able to agree on a sentence. They asked the judge what would happen if they could not. Sharp told them to simply keep deliberating and try to reach a unanimous decision. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
i am the father of the the third child. in the three years i have known Brandi she never once caused any pain on her kids. i have seen her in action of jerks and seizures. Everything made sense to me when i herd her side. if i ever thought for one second she hurt baby josh i would have never planed to have a baby with her. She already has to live everyday with this condition. and that’s life you cant be afraid of it. They just sentenced to innocent people in this case and i would put my daughters life on it
Parents guilty or not, it would be nice in some of these tragic cases for the FLS to have a place where readers can donate a few dollars toward the care of a baby like this, with a feeding tube.
It is possible for someone to drop a baby during an epileptic seisure and not even be aware of it.
Considering there probably should have been a hung jury makes me think that the evidence wasn't just cut and dry. I know a mother who was convicted of child abuse and it turned out her child had brittle bone disease. She was in prison for two years before it was discovered by the "professionals". Not everything is as simple as it appears. We haven't heard all the facts here.
without actually hearing about their character its hard to say, because doctors are often wrong.
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