A Hamilton woman who intentionally drove her car into Columbus Lake with her 2-year-old inside was sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempted felony child abuse last week.
District Attorney Scott Colom told The Dispatch that Cari Cullum pleaded guilty Thursday before Circuit Judge Michelle Easterling.
Easterling sentenced her to a total of 11 years, with six to serve, five suspended and five years of post-release supervision, Colom said.
“This was not a plea deal,” Colom said. “The sentence was totally up to the judge.”
Just after 3 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2019, Cullum backed her car off a boat ramp at Columbus Lake, off of Wilkins-Wise Road. Cullum and her 2-year-old child were in the car.
By the time police arrived, a friend of Cullum’s had pulled her and the child from the car.
Neither Cullum nor the child was injured. Cullum was later charged with attempted murder.
Colom said the child’s father has been given full custody.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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