Mom Gets Prison for Child Abuse

(Waynesville, North Carolina) A 22-year-old local woman, Tabitha Rich, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of inflicting serious injury to her son, 33 months.

Today the judge saw pictures of the boys injuries which included burns to scrotum, testicles, and legs. They say these injuries were extremely painful.

The incident happened October 20, 2008 when the child was 33 months old at the time.

On the first charge she was sentenced to 25 to 39 months in prison. The second 25 to 39 months in prison. The charges will run consecutively.

When Rich is released she will have to be under supervised probation and no contact with the child. The judge didn’t give her credit for the time she served in prison.

The district attorney say the child is doing well in foster care with relatives and is excited about Christmas.

Rich's boyfriend, Travis Hensley, awaits court on unrelated felony charges.