KINGWOOD — Former Preston dog warden Brittaney Shearer was sentenced to seven years probation and five years extended supervision Friday.
Shearer pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit child abuse resulting in injury related to an incident with her 11-year-old daughter. The state dismissed a felony child abuse charge in exchange for a binding plea of 1-5 years in prison and court costs, with the prison time suspended for probation.
At that hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Megan Allender said the victim has a relationship with her mother and didn’t want her to go to prison. The child’s father and the child’s therapist and psychologist agreed to the plea, Allender said.
“I would just like to say that what happened in 60 seconds has definitely changed my family’s life,” Shearer said at the sentencing.
Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer gave Shearer permission to travel out of state, since she has signed three waivers of extradition that could be used to return her to West Virginia, if she flees. Her daughters live in Maryland.
“The court was glad to hear you speak today,” Shaffer said. “A lot of times 60 seconds changes a person’s life forever … The court hopes that you learned a valuable lesson from this.”
Her youngest child will be 21 when Shearer finished extended supervision, the judge said. She must also register with the state child abuse registry. If she violates probation or the extended release, she could go to prison.
As previously reported, Allender said the state would have proven that in April 2017 there was “discord” between Shearer and her daughter over putting a dog into a crate. Shearer used a “sweeping” motion to the girl’s legs and brought her to the ground, then straddled her and held her down.
Then Shearer’s “significant other,” Robert Bragg, “smacked” the girl on her face and neck with a folded leather belt.
Afterwards, the girl was told to cover the marks with makeup and go to school. At South Preston, an administrator saw the marks and called police, Allender said.
Shearer was suspended by the county commission and then resigned as Preston dog warden after being charged. She was indicted in October 2017. Bragg was also indicted on charges of child abuse resulting in injury.
In December 2017 Bragg entered into a deferred adjudication agreement. Under the agreement, he pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse and another was dismissed. He will serve two years on probation and must pay court costs and restitution, as well as provide DNA to police. If he follows the terms of probation, at the end of the two years, he can withdraw his guilty plea to the felony and plead guilty to misdemeanor child abuse and pay a $100 fine.
