Ypsilanti Township mother pleads guilty to abusing her children
An Ypsilanti Township woman already in prison on fraud charges pleaded guilty to physically abusing her own children repeatedly with electrical cords and belts over the past few years.
Alexis Hudson, 26, waived her scheduled preliminary hearing in Washtenaw County District Court on four counts of first-degree child abuse.
Court records show the mother of three instead pleaded guilty at the recent hearing to four counts of second-degree child abuse that police said stemmed from attacks on her children with electrical cords and belts. Hudson returned to prison and faces up to four more years on each conviction at sentencing on June 24.
Hudson also recently was sentenced to 18 months in prison on one count of uttering and publishing stemming from an offense in 2009, court records show. She was already serving a two-year probation sentence for uttering and publishing convictions in Wayne County.
Prison records show she was also convicted of theft and larceny charges in Washtenaw County in 2004.
Washtenaw County sheriff’s detectives began investigating allegations of abuse involving Hudson’s children, ages 3, 5, and 7, were reported by child protective services officials in March.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Derrick Jackson said reports indicate the family had six contacts with protective services since 2008. The incidents she was convicted of involved her 5-year-old son and her 7-year-old daughter, Jackson said, and date as far back as May 2008.
“There was a history of reported physical abuse, and the reports repeatedly mention the children being hit with electric extension cords, belts and other objects,” Jackson said. He said he did not believe the children were hospitalized as a result of the assaults, but reports indicated they suffered visible scars.
An attorney with the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office was assigned to the case and could not be reached for comment.
The children are now living with relatives. Jackson said investigators were relieved the children won't be forced to testify in court.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
M.
Tue, Jun 15, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
Stevek - Your point actually seemed to change now. The point of your last post was simply that any teenager who has a child should be immediately investigated and monitored by Child Protective Services (wow, what a drain on our extremely limited CPS resources that would be!). Now your point is that if anyone is financially unable to support a child they shouldn't have one...but that does not relate to this story because there is no indication of financial need. With all of the fraud she was committing I am sure she had more than enough money to buy all of the belts and electrical cords she could get her hands on. Regardless, just as you have your right to an opinion, humans have the right to reproduce in this country whether they are poor or not. Things aren't as cut and dried like you make them seem. Financial ability is something to plan for when you're planning on having a child, but you may be poor and get pregnant with no planning and all you can do is try to better your quality of life for you and your child. Some people are bad people and should not be allowed to care for children, but they are a minority (even though they're in the media more often) so please don't judge us young parents based on the bad apples. If you become more open to learning about people without prejudging them and stop stereotyping the world will become a slightly better place.
stevek
Tue, Jun 15, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.
Malorie, A2artteacher, you have every right to be offended, and I have every right to have my own opinion. I think you missed the point. If you are a teenager and are mature enough to have a child, (have a means to support the child both financially and emotionally without relying on assistance), then by all means, have a child. If you are a 19 year old "legal adult" who can't provide for that child, how does bringing a child into this world make your life or your child's life easier?
A2artteacher
Tue, Jun 15, 2010 : 6:04 a.m.
Thank You, Malorie, for speaking so eloquently on our behalf.
M.
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 8:58 p.m.
Also, to imply that the only parents who abuse their children (or even majority of parents who abuse their kids) are teen parents is just plain incorrect information. Most of the teen parents I have known have a long future ahead and have the motivation and opportunities to better their lives that people well into adulthood do not often have (speaking from experience).
M.
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 8:46 p.m.
Stevek - I am very offended by your comment. This woman is 26 and her oldest child is 7...this makes her 19 when she had her first child. When I think "teen mom", I don't usually think of a 19 year old legal adult. Why can't a 19 year old work and support a child? I did. I was younger than that when I had my daughter and I am a loving mother and productive human being BECAUSE I had her, not in spite of it. I am not an exception to the rule. Prejudice will give you nothing but ignorance. A2.com - OTIS has a homepage that explains the conditions and regulations of use for the database and you must click "I Agree" to proceed to view offender tracking information. I don't think it's legit to post a direct link to someone's OTIS profile without the viewer having to agree to the regulations.
stevek
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.
If you are a teen (which she was), and you choose to have children (which she did), you should automatically be investigated and monitored for child abuse. I am not saying that this happened to her, but if you don't have a job, you can't provide and raise your children correctly. If you can't afford to pay your utilities and heat your home, you are not raising your children correctly and this is a form of abuse. If your life is non-productive in life and you are a criminal, how does having children help your situation?
Davidian
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
A lot of my friends growing up were "whipped" with electrical cords, belts, switches, etc--particularly the kids from poorer neighborhoods. It was par for the course for them. I'm glad that the courts are taking this ABUSE seriously.
sharon
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 6:18 a.m.
I would think after just one report that had proved abuse the kids should have been taken then.. what a shame I cant have her over for..umm..tea.