Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 18, 1995                   TAG: 9507180088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD PARENTS GET 3 YEARS

Michael and Anita Burgess both had pleaded guilty to felony counts of child neglect. They faced maximum sentences of five years each.

Their daughter, Amber, was 2 months old when she was taken to Community Hospital with a broken leg and other fractures in various stages of healing.

A pediatrician testified at Anita Burgess' preliminary hearing that it would have taken the force of a 30-foot fall to break the child's femur.

"No time is enough for anyone who intentionally injures a child, but I think the sentencing was very good," Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz said.

Also Monday, a Forest man pleaded guilty to sodomizing and fondling a young boy he was baby-sitting.

Christopher Giles Brown, 23, was found guilty of two counts of sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual battery. He faces five years to life on each sodomy charge and up to 20 years for battery.

No sentencing date was set.