Angela Manning, 36, was sentenced to three years in prison after testing positive for drugs on the day she gave birth to her tenth child.
Judge Mike Baxley sentenced Manning after she pled guilty to a charge of unlawful neglect of a child.
“We charge and prosecute mothers who test positive for drugs while pregnant,” said Shipp Daniel, assistant solicitor. “On these cases, we make no plea deals, so the judge has a wide range of discretion and bases his or her decision on several factors.”
Daniel said the charge of unlawful neglect of a child carries up to 10 years in prison. Judges consider many things when deciding their sentence, such as the defendant’s prior record, whether they have cooperated with DSS, and whether their subsequent drug tests have been positive or negative.
According to testimony in court during the plea, DSS had removed all children from Manning’s custody. She had only partially cooperated with DSS.
Manning’s lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Nathan Scales, filed a motion to reconsider, asking Baxley to lessen Manning’s sentence. After hearing from Scales and Manning, Baxley elected to not change his sentence.
Daniel had several other cases that ended in guilty please last week, including William Brooks. Brooks, a registered sex offender originally charged with indecent exposure for an incident at Rose’s store in Dillon, pled to aggravated breach of peace and was ordered to receive counseling. If he does not successfully complete counseling, he faces 10 years in prison.
Assistant Solicitor Lee Hayes handled several matters as well. Amy Anderson, who admitted her guilt to second degree burglary and grand larceny.
Her sentence will be handed down next month. In the interim, she is being detained at the county jail.
Anderson’s co-defendant, Bradley Moody, received a 10-year sentence deferred to drug court, which is an intensive drug treatment program that he must successfully complete.
Lloyd Oxendine pled guilty to breach of peace and received a sentence of 54 days (time he already served) and was ordered to complete the batterer’s intervention program.
Jason Blackmon pled guilty of possession of a controlled substance and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
Amanda Owens pled guilty to forgery and received a sentence of two years suspended to two years probation and restitution.
Genora Bethea was sentenced to 30 months suspended to 18 months probation after pleading to arson and filing false insurance claims.
Samuel Green pled guilty to second degree burglary and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
The next term of general sessions is April 7.
