Mom to admit guilt in ignoring son's fractures

The lawyer for an Indian Hills mother of five, accused of ignoring her 14-month-old son's fractured arm and leg for 10 days, told a judge Wednesday his client wants treatment to kick her methamphetamine addiction.

Lawyer Joel Barber said April Mastrian, 29, wanted to stay in Douglas County Jail until she could enter an inpatient treatment program.

Barber said he had reached tentative agreement with prosecutor Kris Brown that Mastrian would plead guilty to child neglect rather than child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm.

If convicted of the felony neglect charge, Mastrian faces up to six years in prison.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl ordered her to appear in District Court on April 17 to enter a plea.

That allows her time to be admitted to drug treatment and complete a 28-day program.

"The longer she stays in here, the better she stays away from the powder," Barber said. "If she fails, if she screws up, if she messes up, she's back."

EnEarl warned Mastrian to stay clean.

"For what it's worth, staying away from the temptations of methamphetamine until you complete your in-patient treatment is a sound decision. You need help or you wouldn't be here," he said.

Mastrian did not speak at her hearing, but nodded her head in agreement.

According to court documents, Mastrian is accused of not reporting the injuries to her 14-month-old son that she alleged occurred Nov. 9, 2005, at the hands of her former boyfriend, a 32-year-old Carson City resident.

The baby's injuries were not treated for 10 days until an alarmed child-care worker contacted the little boy's grandmother, who took him to a doctor on Nov. 18.

Mastrian told deputies she failed to report the alleged abuse because she was afraid she would get in trouble for leaving the baby, his twin sister and two other children in the care of a known methamphetamine addict.

The Carson City man has not been charged in the incident.

The children are in the care of her mother.