Woman gets year in jail for body piercing 13-year-old girl's private area

A 43-year-old Louisiana woman charged in Collier County with aggravated child abuse for piercing the pubic area of a 13-year-old girl as a way to keep her from having sex received a year in jail Tuesday and agreed to testify against the girl's mother, who also is charged in the case. Tammy Jane Meredith, of 4250 Blount Road, #50, Baton Rouge, La., gave the girl the body piercing against her will and at the request of the girl's mother, who is charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse. She could face up to 30 years in state prison if convicted. The girl had been sexually active with two adult men, and that qualifies as sexual abuse because of the child's age, said the prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Steve Maresca. But after learning of the sexual activity, the mother had Meredith pierce the girl's private area with a post and a connected hoop, authorities said.

source: Article 'Woman gets year in jail for body piercing 13-year-old girl's private area' by Chris W. Colby; www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/jan/30/woman_gets_year_jail_body_piercing_pubic_area_13ye/?latest; 30 January 2007