Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150176
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Paula Sue Lineberry, 22 when the incident happened in September at her trailer home in Woodlawn, was found guilty of two misdemeanors, Commonwealth's Attorney Greg Goad said.
She must receive counseling as part of the judgment against her for child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Circuit Judge Duane Mink ordered. For now, Lineberry's two sons are in foster care, although she has visitation rights, Goad said.
In September, Lineberry and her roommate, Sandra Leftwich, 21, left their children with an 11-year-old baby sitter while they headed to Galax to go to a nightclub and visit friends, Goad said.
Leftwich earlier was found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, also a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to six months' probation for leaving her 2-year-old daughter with the baby sitter, Goad said. She may appeal the decision.
The women were gone for almost six hours. When they returned, the baby sitter had fallen asleep watching television, and the 2-year-old boy, left in the playpen with the then-7-month-old boy, had bitten him at least 36 times on the back, wrist, leg and mostly on the head.
Goad said Lineberry initially thought about not taking the child to the hospital, "because she knew she was in trouble," but then did take him to Twin County Hospital for treatment.
He said Lineberry knew her 2-year-old was "a biter," and used to bite him back to try to break him of the habit.
The 10-month-old boy, Goad said, is "healing up good, but he's got a couple of scars."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.