A Leola mother was convicted Thursday of beating her 6-year-old son with belt lashings earlier this year.
A Lancaster County jury convicted Rebecca Souden, 35, of assault and child endangerment – both misdemeanors – regarding the January 2015 abuse at an Ethel Avenue home.
The jury deliberated 30 minutes after two days of testimony before reaching its decision.
Judge Donald Totaro, who presided over the trial, will order sentence after a background check is completed in a couple months.
Assistant District Attorney Todd Kriner prosecuted the case.
East Lampeter Township police Detective Christopher Jones filed the charges.
A social worker at the boy’s school discovered the abuse after noticing welts on his face. Larger welts were then discovered on the boy’s buttocks. Police alleged Souden beat the boy's buttocks with a belt.
The boy, and Souden’s daughter, are in the custody of local social services.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us