Teacher Sentenced for Child Abuse of Son

(White County, Arkansas) In April 2007, a 25-year-old teacher at Jacksonville Elementary School, Amy Hilbun, was arrested for alleged child abuse of her six-year-old son. Another teacher, 35-year-old Stephen Rose, was also arrested for the same offense.

A hotline tip of child abuse to the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services prompted the investigation and arrests.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff, Hilbun "whipped the child with a belt, hit him with a cat stick, a toy you play with cats with, grabbed him and shook him and caused him some bruising, in excess of a normal grabbing." The child, however, required no medical care.

Last week, a White County Circuit Court jury convicted Hilbun of two counts of second-degree battery and she was sentenced to three years in prison.

Stephen Rose is scheduled for a jury trial on October 9th.

I don't know about this case. Three years seems harsh for Hilbun, especially since Mary Winkler only got five months for fatally shotgunning her husband in the back while he slept.