A mother, who on Tuesday appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty charged with endangering her infant, was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 or face an alternative sentence of three months in prison.
Jewel Coates, 35, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not required to plead to the charge.
It is alleged that on September 30, 2016, she wilfully contributed to her three-week-old child being in need of protective intervention.
During the hearing, Coates told the Magistrate that she did not want the infant anymore and as such, decided to get rid of her.
She explained that her decision stemmed from frustration over problems with the child’s father.
However, the prosecution contended that on the day in question, Coates was followed by family members after she left with the child.
According to a member of the family, Coates put the baby on the roadway and walked away, but subsequently returned after a dog approached the child.
She picked up the child and took her to another location where she once again put the child on the corner of the road and ran away.
The child was picked up and the matter was reported to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost. Coates was later arrested and charged for the offence.
