No ‘bite’ in punishment for mom who dropped son in with cheetahs
Michelle Schwab, the Delaware County mother that dropped her 2 year-old son into a cheetah exhibit at the Cleveland Zoo in April, learned her sentence today. Probation and parenting classes.
Schwab was originally charged with child endangering in the case but, in a negotiated deal with prosecutors, entered a ‘no contest’ plea last month to a charge of aggravated trespassing. She cried in court on Wednesday as she told the judge that the incident marked the ‘worst day of her life.’
Her lawyers said that the media attention and personal criticism that their client received because of the case should be punishment enough. Judge Ronald Adrine called Schwab’s actions “scary” and “unconscionable.”
He then gave her a 180-day jail sentence, but suspended the incarceration and ordered Schwab to a term of 1-year probation. She also must take parenting classes and pay court costs. (jj)
Previous: Mom who dropped son in with cheetahs has day in court 5/28/15
The Delaware County mom that dropped her 2 year-old son into a cheetah exhibit at the Cleveland Zoo last month has had her day in court. Michelle Schwab pleaded ‘no contest’ to an amended charge of aggravated trespassing. She was originally charged with child endangering in the case that saw her sitting her son on the exhibit’s guardrail and dropping the boy into the enclosure. Schwab and her husband jumped over the rail and into the pen to rescue the boy who had suffered a broken leg in the fall. (Witnesses say that the cheetahs never advanced on the family.)
Schwab is currently suspended from her job as manager or a daycare in Columbus. With the plea, she faces the possibility of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. (jj)
Previous: Mom needs to get a grip; drops boy into cheetah exhibit 4/13/15
A Delaware County woman has been charged with child endangerment after dropping her two year-old son into a cheetah habitat at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Witnesses say that the woman was holding the boy over the safety railing when she dropped him and he fell more than 10 feet into the animal enclosure. The child’s parents leapt over that railing into the exhibit themselves to retrieve their son. The cheetahs did not advance and the boy was recovered. The two year-old suffered a leg injury in the fall. (jj)
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