Schaquana Spears, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, mother, was arrested Monday after reportedly spanking three of her children as punishment for breaking into a neighbor’s home.
The 30-year-old mother was jailed Monday evening on one charge of cruelty to juveniles, according to a probable cause affidavit from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office obtained by ABC News Thursday. She has since been released.
According to the affidavit, Spears whipped her 13-year-old, 12-year-old and 10-year-old sons after they allegedly “burglarized a residence down the street” last Friday.
The 13-year-old and 10-year old told detectives they were whipped with an RCA cable and the 12-year-old said he was whipped with a belt. The 13-year old also admitted to breaking into someone’s residence, the affidavit noted.
Detectives found the 13-year-old “had lacerations to both his arms and linear marks on his leg, shoulder, back and stomach,” the 12-year-old had “lacerations to his left arm that did break his skin” and the 10-year-old had “a small scratch on his hand,” according to the affidavit.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said he would be reviewing all the material in the case before deciding whether or not to file formal charges against Spears.
“Parents have the right and obligation to discipline and teach their children,” Moore said. “We oftentimes see children who have no parental authority or discipline, which eventually results in delinquency and criminal acts.”
“We need more parents who discipline their children,” he continued. “Surely you would expect a parent to discipline a child who is burglarizing other people’s homes as this could be a deadly encounter for the child.”
But Spears told WBRZ-TV she felt as if law enforcement made her look like a “bad guy for trying to discipline my kids and showing them right from wrong.”