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

DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995                   TAG: 9511030077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VINTON BABY HURT; MOM ARRESTED

The infant was only 74 days old when her parents took her to the emergency room early Saturday. The baby had fractured ribs, wrists and right lower leg.

Several hours later, the girl was admitted to the intensive care unit at Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley. Her mother was charged with felony child neglect.

Vinton Police Sgt. M.A. Vaught said that, after he interviewed the child's parents, he arrested Katina Smith, 23, of the 1600 block of Ruddell Road. She was held in the the Roanoke County Jail without bond.

Police would not discuss what they learned from the interview with Smith.

Thursday, a Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge set Smith's bond at $25,000. He also required that if Smith were released from jail that she have no contact with the child, and that she enter a residential treatment program.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Susan Cohen said it was not made clear during the hearing what type of treatment Smith would seek.

Smith had not posted bond by late Thursday. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The baby is staying with her paternal grandmother, police said.

by CNB