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
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com