Wednesday, August 15 2012 10:02 AM EDT2012-08-15 14:02:25 GMT
A Mount Pleasant couple has pleaded guilty to homicide by child neglect in the starvation death of their nine-month-old son.More >>
A Mount Pleasant couple has pleaded guilty to homicide by child neglect in the starvation death of their nine-month-old son.More >>
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) - A Mount Pleasant couple faced a judge for sentencing in the starvation death of their nine-month-old son.
Charles Lewis Gordon IV and his wife, Ashley, entered guilty pleas of homicide by child neglect in Charleston on Tuesday. The charge carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
Authorities say the couple's son, Andrew, was found starved to death in their home two years ago. The child was unresponsive and weighed just 6 pounds, 9 ounces, or almost 2 pounds less than when the child was born.
The courtroom was quiet Thursday as Judge J.C. Nicholson began sentencing. Asst. Solicitor Debbie Herring-Lash was on the prosecution side and Public Defender Ashley Pennington was on defense. Coroner Rae Wooten was also in the courtroom.
After the judge accepted the guilty pleas from the couple, the Ashley's defense attorney asked for sentencing guidelines under the manslaughter statute.
Ashley Gordon then addressed the court, saying she knew things weren't right with Andrew but she truly believed it wasn't as serious as it was. She then asked the judge for mercy.
She said there wasn't a day she didn't wish she could go back and do this all over again.
The judge responded, saying the real problem was the fact that the child wasn't progressing like he should and something should have been done.
In the end, Ashley Gordon was sentenced to nine years in prison for the neglect charge in their child's death. Her husband Charles Gordon IV was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Stay with ABC News 4 as we continue to cover this developing story.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>
A missing person report was issued Monday, March 19, 2012, for Marjorie Gayle McCaffrey. Since, there have been searches and prayer services, but few developments in the investigation.More >>
Robert McCaffrey says his two children were home, but his wife was nowhere to be found. A missing person report was issued Monday, March 19, 2012, for Marjorie Gayle McCaffrey. Since, there have been searches and prayer services, but few developments in the investigation.More >>
It's the biggest case of its kind in the history of the Charleston area. With dozens of victims over the course of nearly 10 years, the ReVille case shook the Lowcountry. More >>
It's the biggest case of its kind in the history of the Charleston area. With dozens of victims over the course of nearly 10 years, the ReVille case shook the Lowcountry. Click this link for an in-depth look at the case, start to finish.More >>
For months the Waring family searched for their daughter reaching out to the press, even hiring a team of private investigators. It was a case that attracted national media attention.More >>
For months the Waring family searched for their daughter reaching out to the press, even hiring a team of private investigators. It was a case that attracted national media attention.More >>
File Photos (WCIV)
