Boutte mom admits breaking toddler’s leg, arms

Gets 5-year suspended sentence

Accused of fracturing the leg and arms of her then 14-month-old son, a Boutte woman has pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Catherine M. Harvey, 32, of Boutte withdrew her plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty in 29th Judicial District Court on March 22.

Judge Lauren Lemmon sentenced Harvey to five years in prison, which she suspended, and 126 days in parish prison with credit for time served. Harvey was placed on five-year probation. If she violates probation, Harvey will serve the prison sentence.

Harvey was fined $100 and court costs, as well as must pay a $60 a month supervision fee.

Lemmon also ordered the woman to get a high school degree or equivalent, and to attend intensive parenting classes.St. Charles Parish District Attorney Joel Chaisson II said prosecutors handled this case with careful consideration and with input from the child’s father.

“No cases are more tragic than ones involving parental abuse of children,” Chaisson said. “This case is no exception.”Harvey was arrested in February of last year when the child’s father, who is the primary caregiver, brought the toddler to the emergency room in December 2014, according to then St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s spokesman Dwayne LaGrange. The child was being treated for a leg fracture when arm fractures that LaGrange described as “healing” were discovered.

Following an investigation that included acquiring doctor reports, LaGrange said the Sheriff’s Office moved forward with the arrest and issued a warrant for Harvey’s arrest on Feb. 13. The child was removed from the residence.

Chaisson said the father “was adamant that the defendant not receive additional jail time. He requested instead a term of supervised probation that would permit the defendant to receive parenting classes to assist her with re-establishing a relationship with her child.”

Based on this request, Harvey got the longest probation allowed by law and a significant suspended sentence, which she will have to serve if she violates terms of her probation.

Chaisson added, “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute all cases involving abuse of minors.”

 

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