Woman sentenced for abuse

The defendant tried to blame the father of the abused child.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A judge sentenced a woman to five years in prison for repeatedly burning her daughter with a cigarette.
Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court imposed the sentence Friday for what he said were "unbelievably cruel acts that are above imagination."
A jury found Tammy Moyer, 23, of Parkview Drive, guilty of two counts of endangering children during a trial in February.
The first charge was for violating her responsibility to protect her 4-year-old daughter. She could have received up to three years in prison. The second charge for the actual abuse had a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.
Assistant County Prosecutor Timothy McNicol asked for an eight-year sentence, citing the "violation of trust that took place."
Moyer had no prior criminal record but otherwise fit all the criteria for a prison sentence, he said. Moyer's attitude in court also showed "a lack of concern," he added.
Defense attorney Peter Horvath argued that a psychological examination of Moyer could have been made before sentencing.
Fulfilling requirements
Horvath said Moyer was fulfilling all the requirements from juvenile authorities to reunite the family. She has obtained a job at a Salem printing company since the trial and has friends and neighbors to help her, the attorney said.
Moyer also has a son, 6, who testified at the trial that his mother burned his sister because she would not stay in bed.
When allowed to speak before sentencing, Moyer apparently tried to shift the blame back to Chris Moore, the father of the children.
Moyer said that she only wanted to ask why nobody asked the father what happened to the girl before she was taken to Salem Community Hospital.
Moyer testified she found the marks on her daughter but had no idea what happened. The girl spent time later that day with Moore and other adults. According to testimony, the girl was taken to the hospital after they noticed the burns.
Moore, who has custody of the children, declined to speak during the hearing.
wilkinson@vindy.com