Document text
Couple gets probation for mistreating baby By Dani Dodge A couple who left their 9-month-old baby alone in a frigid car while they did drugs pleaded guilty to criminal mistreatment Monday and were sentenced to community service for their crimes. Tiffanie Marie Burns, 22, and Jessie Garron Burns, 21, of White City, have been in drug rehabilitation since their arrest in November on charges of child neglect and criminal mistreatment. "I know what I did was wrong, and I�m trying to make it better," Jessie Burns told Judge Rebecca Orf. "I�m doing everything they tell me to do." Orf noted that she�s been dealing with the Burnses on the matter of custody of their now 1-year-old daughter. She said she has seen the young couple take responsibility for their wrong-doings. "They pretty quickly acknowledged they had a problem and started treatment as soon as the baby was taken," Orf said. "I�m comfortable that you are on board now." But Orf put them on probation for three years, warning them they still could end up behind bars. They spent a few days in jail when they were first arrested. Orf said she "won�t hesitate" to impose jail time if either defendant violates the terms of their probation. Neither of the Burnses has extensive criminal records. Tiffanie Burns was arrested for possession of methamphetamine about a month before the baby incident. Jessie Burns once stole a Moped. In November, a neighbor at a Medford apartment complex called police after she noticed that the Burns� baby was in the car at 5:30 a.m., when the temperature outside was 32 degrees, and was in the car again when the woman got home from work, when it was 36 degrees outside. Authorities don�t believe the baby was in the car the whole day. "The baby was blue and had a temperature of 95 degrees," said Deputy District Attorney Beth Heckert. "The baby was dressed inappropriately and had only a covering over its legs." Jessie Burns� attorney, Lisa Greif, said it was lucky the neighbor was observant. "This was largely due to their heavy methamphetamine use," Greif said. "But I do believe Mr. and Mrs. Burns have the potential to be good parents." The Burnses each pleaded guilty Monday to one count of first-degree criminal mistreatment. Judge Orf sentenced them to 40 hours of community service and three years probation. They can�t have contact with their daughter without the permission of workers at Services to Children and Families, and they have to complete drug treatment. After Tiffanie Burns pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, she was given a conditional discharge, which will allow her to wipe the charge off her record if she completes probation. Grief said she has confidence the Burnses won�t be part of the revolving door of justice. "Everything they�ve done shows they really realize they�ve really messed up," Grief said. "And they will make sure it will never happens again." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.