Community service for mom of smoking 3-y-o

The St Catherine mother whose three-year-old child was seen on a viral video smoking and appearing to drink alchohol has been sentenced to community service.

Alecia Fogah, 24, had pleaded guilty to neglect charges in October 2020.

She was sentenced last Friday by Parish Judge Alicia McIntosh.

Attorneys-at-law Maisha Campbell and Tom Tavares-Finson made impassioned pleas for mitigation on their client’s behalf.

The court was told that it was the Old Harbour Bay resident’s first offence and that it was born of ignorance. Her guilty plea was also cited as a mitigating factor.

Judge McIntosh ordered that Fogah be given 80 hours of community service under the supervision of the probation department. Fogah, who has four children, will be offered training in responsible parenting.

The judge told Fogah that in the interim, the children’s maternal grandmother would retain custodial charge over the children until the court decided otherwise.

Fogah’s appearance in court arose from an incident in October when her child was seen being coaxed by persons to consume what appeared to be alcohol on his birthday.

An investigation was launched, which resulted in Fogah’s arrest.

A further probe resulted in Fogah being charged with the criminal act against her child for which she was sentenced.

The conviction will not be on her record, The Gleaner understands.