01/19/2000
Olson, Dave

Former Moorhead day-care provider pleads guilty to child abuse charge

By Dave Olson
A Moorhead woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in Clay County District Court to a
charge of malicious punishment of a child causing great bodily harm.
Brenda J. Rousseau, 31, 408 Elm St. S., admitted in court that she shook and
dropped a 7-month-old girl who was in her care June 8.
Rousseau was a day-care provider at the time.
According to court documents, the infant suffered a number of injuries and
problems as a result of the incident, including a fractured skull,
neurological trauma, seizures and impaired vision.
The documents state that Rousseau told investigators she "snapped" and shook
the child in frustration. After realizing she had hurt the girl, she panicked
and dropped the child on her head.
In return for the guilty plea, other charges, including a count of
first-degree assault, are to be dropped.
Rousseau will be sentenced at a future date after a presentence investigation
is completed