By Victor Omondi
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Thursday that a Houston mother who falsely claimed in 2019 that her 5-year-old daughter died after falling from an apartment balcony was sentenced to 40 years in prison for beating the youngster to death.
“Children are the most vulnerable and most innocent victims that we see in the criminal justice system, and a parent’s duty is to protect them, not violently beat them,” stated Ogg.
24-year-old Andrea Webb pleaded guilty in September to a first-degree felony of injury to a child, which carries the same five-year to life sentence as a murder charge, and asked that her penalty be decided by a court. She was sentenced on Wednesday by a judge.
Was Arbery killing a hate crime? Jury hears dueling views
On March 9, 2019, Webb contacted authorities to her apartment, claiming that her daughter, Samantha Bell, had died after falling from the second-story balcony. When authorities inquired about the girl’s bruises, Webb revealed that she lied and made up the narrative because she was afraid of being charged with murder.
Webb acknowledged to beating the child with belts and forcing her to sit against the wall for hours at a time, and that she would hit her if she couldn’t do the “wall sits,” authorities said.
Devon Gibson, Webb’s boyfriend, was also arrested. Gibson’s case is currently being adjudicated.
The case was pursued by Assistant District Attorney Gilbert Sawtelle, who said the penalty was reasonable for the young victim.
“This physical abuse went on for a long period of time and didn’t just happen on one day,” Sawtelle explained.
Source: Houston Mother Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Beating Her Daughter to Death and Lying About It
Recent Comments