DA Hoovler Announces Prison Sentence
In Assault of Newborn
Mother Who Pled Guilty to Assault in the First Degree for Abandoning Newborn
in Toilet of Motel-Room Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Tuesday, June 18, Teresa Smith, 23, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown to ten years in state prison and five years post-release supervision in connection with Smith having abandoned her newborn baby in the toilet bowl of a motel room she had occupied. On Thursday, April 25, 2019, Smith had pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree. At the time that Smith pleaded guilty, she admitted that her actions in abandoning the newborn baby in the toilet bowl, and leaving the motel room, caused serious physical injury to the infant which created a substantial risk of death. Prosecutors had recommended that Smith be sentenced to fifteen years in state prison.
On November 1, 2018, motel workers at the Budget Inn Motel, located at 5202 Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh, discovered blood, other bodily fluids and soiled clothes in the room and immediately contacted the police. Officers from the Town of Newburgh Police Department discovered the baby in the toilet bowl, and immediately rendered first aid. The baby was rushed to the hospital and survived. Prosecutors argued that after having given birth to the child found in a toilet bowl of her motel room, Smith wholly abandoned the child, leaving him in a toilet bowl, and left the room. Prosecutors argued that Smith had no intent to return or care for the child as she left the motel.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their rescue of the infant, their investigation and the arrest of Smith.
“It is hard to comprehend what could drive any mother to do this to her own baby by abandoning him under these circumstances,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “Infants are the most innocent of victims. We can only hope that there are no long-lasting physical effects which will be suffered by the victim in this case. I am grateful to the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their actions is saving the child’s life. My Office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners in protecting children and will continue to seek severe punishment for all who commit violent crimes against defenseless infants and children.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico.