Lee County Judge Jake Walker issued a prison sentence Friday to  mother who as part of an earlier plea deal admitted abandoning her child who was later found dead in a ditch in May 2008.  “Efernia McClendon began sobbing the moment she learned she would spend the next 10 years in prison…McClendon pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter for causing the death of a newborn baby girl in 2008 and was sentenced by Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III to a 10-year prison term.  Walker denied her application for probation Friday and upheld the plea agreement.”o-a news article

I just don’t understand how people do these things, but thankfully it doesn’t happen very often in Lee County.  One situation that does often come before me in Family Court is a situation where a parent has basically abandoned their child socially, emotionally, academically, or even physically.  I don’t know if there are any cases that come before me that test my patience more than one where it is clear a parent is desiring to give up on their child.  Usually, I send the children out, read the parents the riot act, and hit them with a hefty fine.  But there should, in my opinion, be more consequences for parents whose neglect leads to  their own child having legal issues.  One of the things I intend to do if I’m elected Family Court Judge is to work more closely with the new District Attorney to hold parents accountable for the irresponsibility that leads to their children’s delinquency or other demise.

-Mike Fellows