Hearing delayed in child abuse case

MICHELLE GANASSI

Somerset County — A Hollsopple woman accused of pushing her 5-year-old adopted son down a flight of stairs and depriving him of food continued a hearing to withdraw her guilty plea Tuesday.

Christy Mae Pensinger, 59, Whistler Street, Hollsopple, pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault in September 2009.

On Tuesday Pensinger’s public defender, Ken Johnson, who originally filed a motion to withdraw the guilty plea in November 2009, asked for a continuance so a second psychological evaluation could be completed. He said Pensinger received one evaluation and based on the results further evaluation is needed.

Police said Pensinger’s son weighed 25 pounds when he was taken to a local hospital in February 2009. She only took him to the doctor twice since August 2007. Police said she also assaulted him.

He asked that the hearing be delayed “until we can do further evaluations in the interest of me trying to be an advocate on Mrs. Pensinger’s behalf,” he said.

He asked for 60 days.

Assistant District Attorney Catherine Primavera-Zakucia objected to Johnson’s request. She asked that if Judge John Cascio granted the request that he schedule the next date for the motion, a competency hearing and sentencing on the same day. Tuesday was just supposed to be a motion hearing.

Cascio granted Johnson’s motion for a continuance. A hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. April 26.

After Johnson filed the motion in November 2009 arguments were postponed in order to complete competency evaluations. One psychiatrist was approved in February 2010. That order was vacated and a second psychiatrist was appointed to the case two months later.