GUILTY TX - 4 kids dead after in-home day care fire, Houston, 24 Feb 2011

[BuzzieCat]

The criminal background check did include juvenile records, but nothing came up for her. Not clear why. Since she was tried in juvenile court, there is no official conviction, so maybe that's why?
http://www.ultimatekaty.com/stories/235580-houston-fire-suspect-had-prior-arson-case

Hmm, that is strange. If it searches juvenile records, why couldn't it find it? Weird. I wonder what level of background check they performed. I've been told that an FBI level background check will find even juvie records, even if the person was told that their juvie records would be sealed.

Hmm. I looked here http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Information_for_Providers/faq_fingerprint.asp and it does seem to be a state and then an FBI level check.

 

[BuzzieCat]

http://www.kens5.com/news/118570894.html

 

[jjenny]

She is now facing four counts of felony murder.
"The filings also allege that on the day of the fire, Tata "did then and there unlawfully, commit and attempt to commit the felony of abandoning a child with the intent to return … under circumstances that exposed [each child] to an unreasonable risk of harm" and "did not voluntarily deliver [each child] to a designated emergency infant care provider" as required under Texas law and "did commit an act clearly dangerous to human life, namely by leaving [each child] without adult supervision in a house with a pan containing oil on top of a heated burner that started a fire that caused the death of [each child].""
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7498634.html

 

[burbqueen]

Ok does anyone know if she had any code violations? In Texas there is a database I use all the time that lists the center and city and what violations the place has. Here it is:

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_C...e/CCLNET/Source/CPA/ppSearchTXChildCare2.aspx

OK sorry, I see that she didnt have any violations by reading previous posts....

 

[BuzzieCat]

http://www.kens5.com/news/125518713.html

This just says she was arraigned on 4 counts of felony murder on July 13, 2011, and plead not guilty. I thought we already had that info back in March but figured I'd post it anyway.

"Tata is also charged with injury to a child, child endangerment, and child abandonment."

She has been held in the Harris County Jail on $1 million bond since she was apprehended. The plan as of now is to try one of the cases in January and the others later.

 

[buffetoflies]

This bish had a few more charges filed against her recently: food stamp theft and unlawfully acquiring benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program since December 2007.

Hopefully these charges matter too much in her sentencing, as she should be sentenced to death for the deaths of the 4 toddlers, and serious injuries to the other 3 children.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...a-pleads-not-guilty-on-food-stamp-2219091.php

 

[peeples]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8883440&hpt=ju_bn5

Jurors have found Jessica Tata guilty on one count of felony murder in connection with the deadly fire at her home day care that killed four toddlers.

Tata could receive a wide range of punishment, from five to 99 years in prison. The punishment phase begins at 1pm, after a court recess for lunch.

Tata still faces three more counts of felony murder, three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

"The questions the jury has asked indicated that the members focused on witness testimony. They asked for testimony to be re-read to them, including that of a victim's parent who said Tata told her she had been in a bathroom at home when the fire broke out, as well as that of a Target employee who said Tata said she had left a stove turned on but claimed her sister was watching the children."

She knew. :furious:

 

[jjenny]

"On Tuesday, a former administrator from Katy ISD told jurors Tata was suspended and ultimately expelled from the ninth grade for her vulgar behavior and for setting two fires in a school bathroom. When asked for his impressions of her, he stated he felt she was a bad and evil person."

http://www.khou.com/home/Former-fri...-want-her-to-do-anything-to-me-179352261.html

 

[JoeFromLB]

A Harris County jury sentenced Jessica Tata to 80 years in prison Tuesday morning for her role in the death of a toddler at a fire at her west Houston day care.

Jurors could have given her a wide range of punishment, from five years to life in prison. Tata, who also received a $10,000 fine, said nothing when state district Judge Marc Brown offered her a chance to speak after hearing the jury's decision. She will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...cond-day-of-deliberations-in-Tata-4053282.php

 

[buffetoflies]

Justice served in this case!

Will there be more time added for the other children?

 

[BuzzieCat]

It doesn't sound like she will get any additional time. They have dismissed the other cases.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...rs-drop-remaining-charges-against-4223429.php

With the cases dismissed, he said, Tata can be moved from the Harris County Jail to prison. She will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

Article states that if she wins her appeal, prosecutors would just retry the case, or they could use one of the other cases if need be since there's no statute of limitations on murder.

So she's eligible for parole at the age of 54 or so... :furious:

 

[TheDuchess]

It doesn't sound like she will get any additional time. They have dismissed the other cases.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...rs-drop-remaining-charges-against-4223429.php



Article states that if she wins her appeal, prosecutors would just retry the case, or they could use one of the other cases if need be since there's no statute of limitations on murder.

So she's eligible for parole at the age of 54 or so... :furious:

Don't worry...she's not going anywhere...I am certain they dismissed the other cases "without prejudice" meaning that they can reinstate the charges at any time. It's a good idea to keep those other cases in their hats "just in case." Plus, it insures that she wasn't convicted on the 4 counts and given concurrent sentences. This woman will never see the free world again.

After reading about her setting fires in the 9th grade, it really makes me wonder if she may have done this on purpose!!! Whatever the case, she's not going anywhere. My hearts are with the families of the victims. How does anyone get over something like this??