Mother indicted for breaking baby’s arm

Published 12:03 am Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A Covington County grand jury has indicted the Andalusia mother accused of breaking her 1-year-old daughter’s arm in three places, dragging her up a flight of stairs and locking her in a bedroom so she and her boyfriend could allegedly “eat lunch without hearing the crying.”

Tiffany Ann Riley, 21, and Jermaine Pate were arrested in July following the incident at a local apartment complex. Reports indicate the two had a history of domestic violence – Pate was on probation for a domestic violence charge, and according to witness statements, the two had verbally abused and repeatedly spanked the child for crying.

Law enforcement was notified of the alleged abuse when the child was taken to a local physician for treatment four days after the incident.

The two were arrested and charged with the willful abuse and torture of a child and held under a $250,000 bond; however, Pate was held without bond for Butler County for violating the terms of his probation.

Riley made bond; however, she was rearrested Friday on the grand jury indictment for aggravated child abuse. She was released that same day on a $100,000 bond.