by Sam Clanton
FORSYTH, Mo. – A woman from Branson is sentenced to 120 days of shock incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections for endangering the welfare of a child.
Earlier this year 22-year-old Alexa Smith pleaded guilty to the felony charge stemming from an incident last August, when emergency personnel were called to her and her husband’s home to treat their unresponsive two-month-old son.
Smith reportedly left the child in the care of her husband, 30-year-old Bryan Matlock, despite having seen him abuse the baby on more than one occasion, according to prosecutors.
Matlock reportedly told police he accidentally fell on the child, but later admitted to injuring the boy out of anger when he wouldn’t stop crying.
Matlock is charged with abuse or neglect of a child and endangering the welfare of a child, and is scheduled to stand trial in Taney County beginning September 26th.