FOXNews.com - Jury Acquits Florida Woman of Child Abuse Over Daughter's Genital Piercing - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News
NAPLES, Fla. — A woman who had her 13-year-old daughter's genitalia pierced to make it uncomfortable for her to have sex was acquitted of aggravated child abuse on Thursday.

The girl, now 16, had testified that her mother asked a friend in 2004 to shave the girl's head to make her unattractive to boys and later held her down for the piercing.

A jury deliberated for about three hours before deciding the mother's actions didn't involve punishment or malicious intent, or cause permanent damage or disfigurement.

The 39-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her daughter's identity, could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

The girl was not in court for the verdict. Her guardian declined comment.

"She was trying to protect me, but it hurt me," the girl testified earlier this week. "It not only hurt me physically, but it hurt me mentally. ... That's emotionally scarring. That's physical abuse."

Prosecutors said the mother called on a friend to shave the girl's head and do the piercing after realizing that she had been having sex, including with the mother's boyfriend.

Defense attorneys told jurors that the mother had trouble with her rebellious daughter and that the girl agreed to the piercing to help rebuild her mother's trust.

Child welfare officials were called after the girl became infected from the piercing.

Tammy Meredith, 43, who did the piercing in her home, was sentenced to a year in jail for her role. An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother's boyfriend on allegations he had sex with the girl.

This is from FoxNews for Christ's sake. You mean to tell me a woman shaves her daughters head and pierces her genitalia by holding her down to prevent her from having sex is found innocent?
I dont have access to the transcript. But at face value this is beyond horrible.

The fact this girl was having sex at 13 with her mom's boyfriend is beyond bad parenting in my opinion.

The woman who did the actual piercing was sentenced to a year in jail. The mother who demanded it, gets nothing.
Ultimately the victim involved gets all of the trauma involved with being that. On top of knowing the person who persecuted this crime who happens to be her own mother will walk free forever as a result of it. She will struggle to heal forever without being able to hold those accountable, being where they belong.