Keemonta Peterson was sentenced Monday in an Oregon court for first-degree criminal mistreatment after she tried to circumcise her 3-month-old son by herself in her home after reading the Hebrew Bible.
Keemonta Peterson
The Bible Made Me Her It!
Woman Gets Probation For Botched Home Circumcision
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Keemonta Peterson was sentenced Monday in an Oregon court for first-degree criminal mistreatment after she used a box cutter to try to circumcise her 3-month-old son by herself in her home, the Oregonian reported yesterday.
Peterson reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty.
Peterson read the Hebrew Bible and decided it was her obligation have her child circumcised. But she believed he was too old for doctors to do the procedure. So she watched YouTube videos on circumcision and then tried to do it on her own.
She called 9-1-1 after the child began bleeding profusely.
In great pain, the child was transported to a hospital where according to the Associated Press doctors described his condition as life-threatening. They finished the procedure and, according to the Oregonian, the boy has now fully recovered.
The boy and his three siblings are now living with family members in state supervised placements.
Peterson is allowed to visit them, but only under supervision.
Judge Eric Bergstrom told Peterson there would be no benefit in sentencing her to any more time in jail than the 28 days she has already served.
Despite the "sensational-sounding facts," said Bergstrom, "the reality is you love your children and had absolutely no intent to harm your child,” the Oregonian reported.
As part of her sentence, Peterson must undergo mental health treatment and work with a mental health probation officer.
Peterson apologized for her actions and told the court she was thankful for the chance to be with her family.
Peterson was originally held on $550,000 bail. The bail was later reduced to $5,000.
[Hat Tip: Alex.]