Jury finds man guilty of abuse

A jury found Sparta resident Nelson Burges Valencia guilty of one count of felonious child abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia during a special session of superior court on July 30.

The session, held at the Alleghany County Courthouse, was presided over by Judge Richard L. Doughton, with Assistant District Attorney Stacy Adams listed as the prosecutor.

Valencia was charged Sept. 20, 2005 with three counts of felony child abuse with serious bodily injury, according to warrants issued by Det. Lt. Wayne Crouse of the Sparta Police Department. Valencia was charged with inflicting cigarette burns on the neck, leg and stomach of his stepson, who was 2 years old at the time. He also was charged with inflicting cigarette burns on the stomach of his stepdaughter, who was 7 years old at the time.

According to the warrants, the incidents occurred between April 1 and April 30, 2005 and July 8, 2005.

Upon being convicted of one count of felony child abuse, Valencia was sentenced to a minimum of 29 months to a maximum of 44 months in the department of corrections in the custody of the sheriff, with credit for time served. Valencia is to pay a $3,753.75 court-appointed attorney fee, an expert witness fee and an interpreter fee of $25 an hour. Valencia filed a notice of appeal in the matter, but was denied bond and work release.

In reference to the two remaining counts of felony child abuse, a motion to dismiss the charges was allowed at the close of the state's evidence. Another charge, possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana, was voluntarily dismissed.

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