Mom's Discipline Raises Questions

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A mom attempting to raise her sons because of her disciplining them due to the fact not allowing others raises flags. According to whatever the action, the punishment by the mom in an effort to help her children to become respectful law abiding citizens has deepening implications. Sometimes punishment can and should be excessive while no one ever died from being disciplined. Order under any parent's home is a must for children to understand how to become productive citizens. A Monroe woman is behind bars following a recent arrest, after an investigation by law enforcement officials appeared to show that she allegedly inflicted several injuries on two juveniles. According to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, two juveniles ages 11 years old and a 4-year-old came to school with injuries that were noticed by school personnel. Acting on a complaint, deputies arrested Latrina Trashae Woodard on charges of cruelty to juveniles. When deputies spoke to the complaint, they were advised that the 11-year-old came to school with a swollen eye according to the report. There were also allegedly marks on the neck and arm of the victim. An ambulance was called, as paramedics examined the juvenile and advised deputies that the victim had a possible orbital fracture. The victim, deputies said, was taken to a local hospital. Deputies also learned of the second juvenile who had visible injuries on his body. Multiple marks were seen on the middle of the victim's back, according to deputies. The victim advised them that his mother struck them with a belt.

Woodard was advised of her rights concerning the injuries to the juveniles. She allegedly advised deputies that she went to the same hospital that the 11-year-old was taken to because of her hurting her back while spanking the victims. The arrest report said Woodard advised deputies that the 11-year-old "put his foot", when she struck the. But deputies said that Woodard advised them that she stopped when she realized that she had struck him in the face twice. But despite the injuries incurred by the victims, Woodard allegedly claimed that she "did not harm" the victims enough for her to go to jail. Child Protection Services was notified and advised deputies that there had been multiple cases investigated for child abuse by Woodard to the victims, according to the arrest report. Woodard was arrested and booked into Ouachita Correctional Center(OCC) for Cruelty to Juveniles and Second Degree Cruelty to juveniles. There are three sides to every story. This was one side of this story. The Monroe Dispatch welcomes another or the other side of this story.