THURSDAY: Woman sentenced in child abuse case

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A Phil Campbell mother was sentenced to six years in prison for locking her children in a room with no food, water or bathroom facilities for several days.
Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey sentenced Cassandra Reiter, 25, of 11795 Highway 43 Apt. 2 in Phil Campbell, Wednesday morning, and she was taken into custody after the hearing.
"We are pleased with the sentence," District Attorney Joey Rushing said. "These kinds of cases are very difficult. We respect the judge's decision and believe he did the only thing the could do to send the message that these kinds of actions cannot be tolerated."
Reiter pled guilty last month to one count of child abuse. She was initially charged with three counts of child abuse for her involvement in the abuse of her three children.
Rushing said Reiter and her husband, Jason Reiter, 25, locked the children in a bedroom for extensive periods of time without food, water and restroom facilities during the summer and fall of 2007.
Jason Reiter also pled guilty and received a 10-year split sentence with two years to serve.
Defense Attorney Nathan Johnson said he was disappointed with the judge's sentence because Reiter was recommended to the Lifetech program, an extensive life skills and parenting education program.
"Lifetech was a good option for Cassandra," Johnson said.
Dempsey did make the case available for Community Corrections if the Department of Corrections recommended it. However, probation was denied.