A 35‑year‑old Georgia mother, Candice McClure of Lenox, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after repeatedly abusing her own child, including beating their legs, choking them, and flogging their forehead with a belt over nearly a decade.
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What the abuse involved
- The child disclosed to an elementary‑school teacher in Cherokee County that McClure had kicked and punched their legs, choked them with her hands, and repeatedly struck their forehead with a belt, leaving a clear “patterned injury.”
- A DFCS (Division of Family & Children Services) visit and medical exam at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta confirmed significant bruising on the legs and belt‑like marks on the head, matching the child’s description.
Legal case and sentencing
- McClure was convicted of aggravated assault and cruelty to children after a four‑day trial; prosecutors presented 20 exhibits, including a recorded forensic interview, photos of injuries, and school records.
- The jury heard that the abuse had lasted about 10 years and that McClure had been arrested in 2016 on child‑cruelty charges after…