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A Warren woman who initially lied to police in a child abuse investigation before admitting that she struck her child causing bruises and contusions - and threw toys that hit the child - has pled guilty.
Harley R. Billyard, 21, entered a guilty plea to felony endangering the welfare of a child on Thursday before President Judge Maureen Skerda.
In exchange for the plea, a count of simple assault was not prosecuted by the Commonwealth.
Skerda asked if the victim's parents were consulted and First Assistant District Cody Brown noted that Billyard was the child's parent and added that the "other parent is currently incarcerated."
Before Billyard entered the plea, she indicated to the court that she did not understand the charges against her but later said she did.
Her attorney, Chief Public Defender John Parroccini, said he met with her on multiple occasions to discuss the charges, elements and possible sentences.
Skerda advised Billyard that the maximum possible penalty was up to seven years incarceration and a fine of up to $15,000.
City of Warren police were dispatched to Warren General Hospital on July 2 for a report of alleged child abuse.
It was there that a two-year-old child was brought to the emergency room with "multiple bruises and contusions in different stages of healing about the body," police said.
Following a formal child abuse report, police said Warren County Children and Youth Services completed a safety plan and the child was removed from the home pending investigation.
Detectives obtained medical records and photos of the child's injuries, and spoke with emergency room doctors.
The doctors advised that "the injuries were suspicious in nature."
Billyard "reported that someone may have entered the home at night and injured the victim," police said.
During a subsequent interview with Billyard, she "was upset at the questions that were asked of her," according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Police said Billyard told detectives that "she never hit her child and lets him walk all over her" but "finally admitted that she struck her child out of frustration and also threw toys that hit the child, but it wasn't intentional."