"John" HUDSON - 3 months - Coshocton County OH

A woman accused of child endangerment in the case of her 3-month-old son is competent to stand trial.A report from a psychologist who interviewed Heather Hudson, 23, of
Sycamore Street, was submitted at a competency hearing Tuesday in
Coshocton County Common Pleas Court. Hudson is charged with a
second-degree felony charge of child endangering.

She was
arrested June 5 after Coshocton County Children Services was notified
by Coshocton Hospital of a possible child abuse victim. The infant was
transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus in critical
condition authorities said.Dr. H.A. Beazel, a psychologist with
the Forensic Diagnostic Center in Byesville, interviewed Hudson for
more than two hours. In that time, Hudson told him the child was born
prematurely and spent more than two weeks at Akron Children's Hospital,
according to the report.She told Beazel she experienced a lot of anxiety and guilt about being separated from an older son, now 19 months old.Both
children were placed in the care of the father and paternal grandmother
after Hudson's arrest, personnel at Children Services said.She
was arrested when medical personnel told a Coshocton County Sheriff's
Office detective the child had possible fractures of both legs, a skull
fracture, healing rib fracture, lacerated liver, hematoma of the
adrenal gland and other injuries, according to an affidavit filed in
municipal court.The sheriff's office consulted with the
hospital's Child Assessment Team and physician, and authorities
determined the injuries were likely caused by abuse rather than an
accident.When interviewed by a detective, Hudson told him she
became frustrated with the baby and at times would pick up the child
and "squeeze" him. She admitted she would yank the baby by the knees or
hold the child at chest level and push the child away from her into the
crib, according to the affidavit.Hudson is aware of the charge
against her, its seriousness and the amount of time she could be
imprisoned if convicted, according to Beazel's report. She's motivated
toward a favorable outcome and understands her attorney's role, Beazel
stated in his report.Judge Richards Evans ruled that the case can go forward and Hudson is competent to assist in her defense.He scheduled a pre-trial conference with attorneys for Friday.If
convicted of the second-degree felony charge, Hudson could face two to
eight years in prison. She's being detained at the Coshocton Justice
Center on $25,000 bond.