SPALDING WOMAN CONVICTED OF ABUSE TO HER 6 WEEK OLD BABY

​Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Lenhard and Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder with the Spalding County District Attorney’s Office tried the case of the State of Georgia vs. Harry Hasty and Patricia Schafer last week. The jury returned a verdict on Friday, April 27th. The jury convicted Patricia Schafer of four counts of Aggravated Battery, eight counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, and one count of Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree. The Honorable Scott Ballard sentenced the defendant to 95 years with the first 60 years to be served in prison. The jury acquitted Harry Hasty.

Schafer was convicted of inflicting multiple injuries to her six week old son, Harry Schafer, including: fractures to his right leg, fracture to the left leg, multiple rib fractures, an injury to his brain, puncture injuries to his mouth, and bruising to his body.

District Attorney Ben Coker said of the verdict, “this was a difficult case for all involved parties. I’m proud of Marie and Kate and my entire office for the hard work that they put into this trial. Our office could not have reached this result without the help of law enforcement and the medical personnel that worked with us. Those who pray on the most innocent of our society deserve sentences like this. We will continue our efforts to protect children in our community from those who seek to harm them.”