Semmes mother found guilty of âhorrifyingâ abuse of twin babies, Mobile DA says
A Semmes mother was found guilty of abusing her twin children so severely she caused skull fractures, brain bleeds and liver damage, Mobile County prosecutors said Wednesday.
The abuse began when they were just three weeks old and continued until her arrest when they were seven months old.
Charity Angel Harris, 31, was found guilty by a Mobile County jury of three counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of assault of her children, the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
“What these babies were subjected to, at the hands of their mother, was horrifying,” said Mobile County D.A. Keith Blackwood. “Our office is committed to being a voice for the voiceless and protecting the most vulnerable among us.”
Court records show that on Aug. 10, 2017, Harris committed felony child abuse causing a skull fracture, brain bleeds, collarbone fracture, right leg fracture and liver damage to one of her children.
On Feb. 25, 2018, records show she caused a black eye, with damage to the eye, liver inflammation, multiple spinal fractures and multiple brain bleeds.
Then, on Nov. 14, 2018, investigators said she caused skull fractures, fractured ribs, a fractured shin bone and a fracture hand, along with burn marks to the buttocks and genitals.
Harris was initially arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse in November 2018, then again in July 2019 on another count of aggravated child abuse.
The children are now in foster care, but have permanent physical injuries due to the abuse, according to the district attorney’s office. Now that Harris has been convicted, the two children are eligible for adoption.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 31. Harris faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, along with a potential fine of up to $60,000, for each count of aggravated child abuse; and a sentence of 2-20 years for assault, with a fine of up to $30,000.