LA PLATA, Md. — Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that Renee Daytona Roberts, 45, was sentenced on Thursday, March 27, 2025, by Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West to 15 years in prison for First-Degree Child Abuse: Severe Injury. Upon her release, Roberts will be on supervised probation for five years.
Roberts pled guilty to the charge on March 13, 2025.
The disturbing incident occurred on January 8, 2024, when officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of child abuse at a Patient First in Waldorf. Upon arrival, officers found Roberts restrained by bystanders on the parking lot asphalt. The 7-year-old victim was safely located in a bystander’s vehicle and transported to the hospital, where it was discovered she had suffered two skull fractures and brain bleeding.
Roberts was combative with officers but was arrested at the scene. Investigators revealed that Roberts had picked the child up and violently slammed her onto the concrete because the child could not remember a religious prayer. The assault was witnessed by bystanders and captured on surveillance video. Roberts later admitted to the abuse during questioning.
At sentencing, the Assistant State’s Attorney described the incident as “unimaginable” and emphasized the need for a heavy punishment to protect the child. Judge West, before delivering the sentence, noted, “The damage is tremendous. The level of sadness is tremendous. The video is shocking.”
Roberts was sentenced to 25 years for the crime, with all but 15 years suspended. She will serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release.
