Plea may not cost Oklahoma DHS worker’s job
Woman admits ignoring claims
BY JAY F. MARKS
Published: December 9, 2008
An Oklahoma Department of Human Services worker pleaded guilty Monday to failing to report child abuse.
Nancy Cannady, 65, was given a one-year suspended sentence by an Oklahoma County judge after she pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
Cannady was charged in September 2007 with ignoring a 5-year-old girl’s claim that she had been sexually abused.
The Guthrie resident could have been sentenced to a year in jail by Special Judge James Croy.
She also must pay court costs and a $500 fine.
DHS officials said the conviction likely will not jeopardize her job since it was not a felony charge.
Cannady’s status with the agency will be reviewed by administrators, spokesman George Johnson said. [See related articles: Oklahoma Foster Care System
Defense attorney Robert Manchester described Cannady as a dedicated worker who made a mistake, then acknowledged it with her guilty plea.
Manchester said Cannady was distraught to learn that the abuse complaints she had not reported in June 2007 were true.
Cecil Frazier confessed in September 2007 to sexually assaulting her and another girl, according to court papers.
Frazier, 18, was charged with eight counts of rape, sodomy and lewd acts with a child.
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Related article: DHS worker admits failing to report child abuse