Small Town News

Woman Pleads Guilty to Cruelty Charges

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Lynn Middlebrooks Geter, accused of forcing her son to kill his pet gerbil, pled guilty to charges of cruelty to children in the first degree, aggravated cruelty to animals and simple battery (family violence) in Meriwether County Superior Court on Monday and was sentenced to 10 years with three years to serve and seven years probation.

The charges stemmed from an alleged incident that occurred on Jan. 12, when Geter was accused of forcing the child to beat his pet gerbil, Rufus, to death with a hammer.

Coweta Circuit Superior Court Judge Quillian Baldwin sentenced Geter to 10 years (three to serve and seven years probation) on the charge of cruelty to children; five years on the charge of aggravated cruelty to animals and 12 months on the simple battery charge, all to run concurrently. Baldwin also ordered that Geter be given credit for the time served since Jan. 14, 2010. He also ordered that Geter receive psychological counseling while in prison, but if it is not provided in prison she receive counseling while on probation.

At the present time, Geter is still being held in the Meriwether County Detention Center and the time spent there will continue to go toward her time served.

"Given the overcrowding situation in state facilities, it could be awhile before she is transferred, "said Meriwether Superior Court Clerk Louise Garrett.

While there is nothing in the final disposition issued by the court about early release, Garrett said it was possible due to the overcrowding situation in the state prisons.



Copyright 2010 The Meriwether Vindicator, Greenville, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Meriwether Vindicator Greenville, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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