Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Shanta Watson, a 34-year-old from Washington D.C., was sentenced to a five-year prison term for an incident involving her three-month-old baby. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department announced the sentence. Watson had pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree cruelty to children in November 2024 at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The events unfolded in September 2024 when Watson, during a dispute with her former partner, decided to wrap things up in a way that endangered her infant. Surveillance cameras captured her throwing the baby onto the pavement outside her apartment complex. Afterward, Watson picked up the child as if nothing had happened and walked back inside.
The baby sustained severe injuries, requiring hospitalization in the NICU. The injuries included multiple skull fractures, brain bleeding, swelling, and elevated liver enzymes, all consistent with Non-Accidental Trauma.
The Metropolitan Police Department led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Smith and Patricia-Joy Walker handling the prosecution. U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith acknowledged the efforts of those involved in bringing the case to justice.
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