Follansbee woman pleads guilty to child abuse | News, Sports, Jobs

WELLSBURG — A Follansbee woman has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse resulting in injury in a case that also resulted in charges for her husband.

Brittany Fluharty, 31, of Follansbee, entered the plea Thursday and is scheduled to be sentenced to probation through a plea agreement reached by her attorney, Thomas Kroger; and Deputy Brooke County Prosecutor Allison Cowden.

The length of probation will be determined by 1st Judicial District Court Judge Ronald Wilson at the hearing to be held on December 5.

Under state law, Fluharty faced a prison sentence of one to five years or up to one year on each charge.

Cowden told the court Fluharty struck a child in his care in the face and ear, causing bruises that were detected by a Brooke County school resource officer.

West Virginia State Police and the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department are also involved in the investigation, he said.

The child, who is no longer in Fluharty’s care, was abused by his previous caregiver and suffered serious psychological problems as a result, including post-traumatic stress disorder, Cowden said.

Fluharty’s husband, Jacob Fluharty, 35, recently pleaded guilty to a charge of child neglect causing injury.

Jacob failed to stop Brittany from physically abusing the child and hitting the child multiple times, causing the child’s mouth to bleed multiple times, Cowden said.

Jacob was sentenced to six months in prison and two years of supervised release and was ordered to register on the state registry of those convicted of child abuse or neglect.

Under state law, possible penalties for child neglect resulting in injury are one to three years in prison and a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for up to five years.