Mother charged with child abuse

FLORENCE - Police have arrested a woman who has been accused of abusing her 2-year-old daughter.

Officials with the Florence Police Department said 22-year-old Amanda Nicole Sanders, 335 Smith St., Florence, was charged Friday with aggravated child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Courthouse officials said aggravated child abuse is a Class B felony, which is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted, while endangering the welfare of a child is a Class A misdemeanor and carries the punishment of up to a year in jail if convicted.

Authorities said the child suffered from a severe burn to her left hand and a spiral fracture to her left femur.

Florence police detective Keith Johnson, who was contacted by the Lauderdale County Department of Human Resources, said he became involved in the case in December. Johnson said DHR was notified in early September when the child was taken to Keller Hospital with the burn to her hand.

Reports indicate the child suffered very severe third-degree burns.

Johnson said the injury was so severe that the child was later transferred to a Birmingham medical facility where she received treatment.

Investigators said Sanders told them the injury occurred when her daughter was playing in water.

Department officials said that while the investigation was ongoing, the child suffered the spiral break to her leg.

Investigators said Sanders explained that injury by saying her daughter had an accident and fell off her bicycle, but there were no witnesses to the fall.

Reports indicate doctors who examined the child for the injuries said both injuries were "nonaccidental."

Johnson said the incidents that led to the injuries supposedly happened while Sanders and her children were living at a residence on Martin Street.

Department officials said the charge of endangering the welfare of a child was added because reports indicated that Sanders is accused of not getting her daughter proper treatment after the injuries.

"Children are innocent. They are to be taken care of, not abused," said Florence Police Deputy Chief Tony Logan.

Authorities said the 2-year-old and her 3-year-old sibling are now in DHR custody.

Sanders is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on bail totaling $20,500.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.