3 months ago
A
Amy Rogers Jones could have faced up to seven years in prison. She is accused of killing the three-month-old child, Jaci Morgan Rogers in January 2008, which a GBI investigator called a classic "shaken-baby" death.
Jones, the mother of 4-year-old twin boys and a girl who will be 2 in February, will begin the sentence Jan. 4.
Judge Sarah Wall sentenced her Friday in Dodge County Superior Court.
That came after several hours of testimony Thursday and Friday on the possible sentence.
The mother and grandmothers of the dead infant testified about how the death has affected them. But Jones' lawyers brought character witnesses, including her husband, father-in-law and pastor, who said she was a loving and caring mother. They also talked about how much the family needed Jones.
On Thursday, Jones entered what is called an "Alford plea." That means she did not admit guilt, but agreed that the court would probably find her guilty.
The defense brought in several court-approved scientific and medical experts who stated that shaken baby syndrome was untested, and that humans can't produce enough force to cause major brain trauma through shaking alone.
Tim Vaughn, District Attorney of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, says none of that matters.
He said: "This was a sentencing hearing, not a trial. The defendant had entered a plea to reckless conduct and felony involuntary manslaughter.
"She had told the court she was responsible for those two criminal acts and was there to receive whatever punishment the court decided was appropriate and I don't know that all that other had a whole lot to do with it."
