PATRICK ATKINS - 15 yo (2009) - Las Vegas NV

A Las Vegas woman accused of killing
her 15-year-old chronically ill son by not providing him with proper
medical care has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Prosecutors had sought a murder count against Lena Anderson when the case
entered the court system in 2009.But on Tuesday, negotiations --
which had been ongoing since June, according to court records -- were
finalized and Anderson pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with
substantial bodily harm.Anderson faces a sentence that could
range from probation to 20 years in prison. The murder charge carried a
potential life sentence.Anderson's son Patrick Atkins died in April 2009.
He had suffered from a chronic kidney disorder since he was 4 years old.Deputy
public defender Dan Silverstein said the teen, who attended Western
High School, stopped taking his medications because he wanted to live as
a normal boy and the medications were making him sick.Prosecutors
said Anderson was criminally liable for her son's death because she
willfully withheld medical treatment. Authorities said Anderson was
repeatedly warned that not caring for Patrick would result in his death.
Prosecutors have retained the right to argue at a sentencing hearing
scheduled for Nov. 30 before Judge James Bixler.Silverstein said Anderson
"has already been punished enough by the loss of her son."The
plea fit what Anderson was criminally liable for, Silverstein said. She
had failed to fill certain medical prescriptions for her son and didn't
disclose his conditions to doctors, Silverstein said.During the
final weeks of Patrick's life, he was vomiting, fatigued and missing
school, authorities said. When Anderson sought medical treatment for her
son, she didn't tell doctors about his chronic kidney disease, police
said.According to her arrest report, Anderson told Las Vegas
police that Patrick didn't like taking the medication, so she stopped
giving it to him.Long before his death, authorities had concerns
about Patrick's well-being. Child Protective Services was called five
times over 10 years to investigate claims that Patrick wasn't being
cared for properly.Anderson, who remains free on $50,000 bail,
was never charged with any crime before Patrick's death.

Poster's Note: So, she plead out to a reduced charge. Now she gets a year in the pokie..for this. Judge RECALL Alert!

A Las Vegas woman who pleaded guilty to felony child abuse for not providing her chronically ill son with proper medical care before his death was sentenced Tuesday to a year in jail.Lena Anderson was initially charged with murder following the 2009 death of Patrick Atkins, 15, who suffered from a chronic kidney disorder since he was 4. During the final weeks of Patrick's life, he was vomiting, fatigued and missing school, authorities said. When Anderson sought treatment for her son she didn't tell doctors about his chronic kidney disease, Las Vegas police said.Anderson's lawyers maintained the Western High School student stopped taking medicine because it made him ill, and he wanted to be a normal boy.District Judge James Bixler said he understood Anderson was frustrated and tired of fighting with her son, but she should have told hospital staff the truth about his condition.Anderson didn't speak but sobbed throughout the hearing.Bixler sentenced Anderson to five years of probation, with the first year spent at the Clark County Detention Center."Somebody's dead," and there has to be a message sent, the judge said.Bixler allowed Anderson to remain free on bail through the holidays, but she must turn herself in on Jan. 4.Prosecutors asked for eight to 20 years in prison, but deputy public defender Dan Silverstein argued Anderson was punished enough by the loss of her son.Silverstein said the teen would not want to see his mother imprisoned because it was his decision to stop taking medicine. Locking up Anderson, a productive member of society, only wastes taxpayers' money and takes a mother away from her other son, he said.According to her arrest report, Anderson told Las Vegas police that Patrick didn't like taking the medication, so she stopped giving it to him.Authorities said Anderson, who had no prior criminal record, willfully withheld treatment though she was repeatedly warned it would lead to Patrick's death.Long before his death, authorities had concerns about Patrick's well-being. Child Protective Services was called five times over 10 years to investigate claims that he wasn't properly cared for.