YOUNGSTOWN Teen-age mom indicted
The woman faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
YOUNGSTOWN -- An 18-year-old North Garland Avenue woman accused of killing her infant son was indicted Thursday by a Mahoning County grand jury.
Janell Thomas faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the October 2001 death of 11-month-old Leroy Huff Jr. The charge is a first-degree felony, punishable by three to 10 years in prison.
Even though she was a juvenile when the crime was committed, Thomas is being tried as an adult. The matter was handed over to common pleas court from juvenile court in February.
Thomas' lawyer, Mark Lavelle, said he wants to get the case in front of a jury as soon as possible because Thomas is unable to post her $1 million bond to get out of jail.
Fractures: Authorities have said the child suffered four skull fractures and bleeding and swelling of his brain, caused by severe blows to his head.
Prosecutors say Thomas is the only person who could have inflicted those injuries.
Thomas told police that the baby fell off a bed and hit his head on the floor, but Judge Theresa Dellick of juvenile court ruled there is no evidence to support that claim.
The Trumbull County Coroner's Office ruled the death a homicide.
Leroy died Oct. 11, two days after being taken to a hospital when his grandmother found him lying on a bedroom floor with blue lips.
Thomas and her mother, Jay Ellen Thomas, 41, were indicted earlier this month on unrelated charges of forgery.