Mother gets probation for withholding food from infant daughter

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County judge placed a Dexter, Mo., mother on probation Wednesday after she earlier pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of her now 11-month-old daughter.

Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp suspended the imposition of Amanda Knight Garrett's sentence and placed her on four years of supervised probation, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver.

Garrett, 21, of the 800 block of North Walnut Street, pleaded guilty in January to the felony of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Garrett and her daughter's father, Vabian Webb, had been accused of failing to obtain and feed their daughter the necessary formula as provided by the Missouri Children's Division through it's Women, Infant and Children's (WIC) program.

"There was no plea deal in it; she pled open," Oliver said. "(Sentencing) was left up to the judge's discretion."

At the time of Garrett's plea, Sharp ordered a sentencing assessment report be completed by Probation and Parole.

During Wednesday's hearing, "I made my arguments for sentencing; the defense made their arguments for sentencing, and the judge made his decision," Oliver said.

In his argument, Oliver said, he presented the facts of the case and the condition of Garrett's then 3-month-old daughter when authorities found her.

When the girl, who has Down syndrome, was removed from her parents' Walnut Street home on June 3, her ribs and collar bone could be seen, as well as loose and sagging skin on her arms and legs. At that time, she weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, which was 4 ounces more than her March birth weight.

The girl has been in the custody of the Missouri Children's Division since her removal.

Garrett's attorney, Mark Glass of Bloomfield, asked for a suspended imposition of any sentence and probation, which is "what the judge wound up giving her," Oliver said. "(Sharp) made his determination based on what was presented."

In addition to the standard conditions of probation, Oliver said, Sharp set about five special conditions.

Oliver said Garrett is not to be "in charge of any children" or have any children in her custody while on probation.

Garrett, he said, also is to testify "truthfully against any co-defendant."

Her co-defendant, Webb, is to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Stephen Mitchell for a preliminary hearing on Friday, Oliver said. Webb, 19, is charged with the felonies of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse.

Garrett, according to a court official, also is to live in Columbia, Mo., with her father, obtain a GED and cooperate with all directives from the Stoddard County Juvenile Office and Children's Division.

Juvenile authorities report the child now weighs approximately 22 pounds.

"Her current placement providers (foster parents) continue to provide her with a loving, caring home environment, which allows the child to continue to gain weight and progress in her development. The unfortunate part of Down syndrome is she has now been diagnosed with epilepsy," the juvenile official said.

The case goal in Stoddard County Juvenile Court reportedly remains termination of both parents' parental rights.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO

Dexter, MO