A 26-year-old San Angelo woman pleaded guilty to injury to a child Monday in district court and received six years probation.

The case involved allegations she excessively spanked her then 5-year-old daughter.

“I think it’s a resolution to the matter,” said J.W. Johnson, a local attorney who represented the mother. “My client’s happy and satisfied.”

Because the Standard-Times does not identify assault victims, the mother’s name is being withheld.

The woman was ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 in addition to her probation. Johnson said the child is staying with a friend who is the temporary custodian at law. He said his client is working with the court and Child Protective Services to get her child back.

In March 2010, the mother was watching her then 5-year-old daughter in the 1300 block of Shahan Road, according to a grand jury indictment filed in April.

The mother spanked the girl about 20 times with a leather belt with enough force to cause numerous bruises around her backside, lower back and legs, according to the indictment. As the girl moved to avoid being hit, the mother held the girl down on a metal bed to strike her, causing bruising on her arm and abdomen, the indictment states.

Claire Carter, with the Tom Green County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case. She said the probation term is sufficient time for the mother to learn better parenting practices and allows prosecutors to return to the case if she violates her probation.

With deferred adjudication, the woman is eligible for up to 10 years in prison if she violates terms of her probation.

“I’m satisfied with the results because it gives the parent a chance to be rehabilitated and learn some parenting skills,” Carter said. “I’m satisfied that CPS is keeping the child safe and protected.”

Carter said a caretaker got investigative agencies involved with the case.

Injury to a child that causes bodily injury is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison. The woman was given deferred adjudication, the completion of which will remove the felony conviction from her criminal record.

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