Mom Slaps Girl, 14, and Jury Convicts Her

A woman who disciplined her wayward 14-year-old daughter with a slap in the face, giving her a black eye, has been found guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery.

Kathi Herren, 32, said her conviction sends the wrong message for parents who want to discipline their children.

“You’re going to have a bunch of out-of-control teenagers doing whatever they want,” she said.

The Thursday conviction carries a penalty of up to three months in jail and a $500 fine, although Judge Brian MacKenzie said he had no intention of sending her to jail.

During jury selection, all the parent jurors admitted to swatting their children as discipline.

“It’s not a crime to discipline a child,” prosecutor Matthew Quinn said in closing arguments. “But a parent may use only as much force as is reasonable.”

Herren and her daughter, Amber Russell, embraced after the verdict. Amber had stayed at a juvenile detention center since the July 19 incident and said she was eager to return home.

The events leading to the charge stemmed from years of trouble--including stealing cigarettes, drinking liquor and disobeying--that Amber admitted she caused.

“I’m not going to be like that anymore,” she said. “I’m not going to fight with her.”