OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska teenager who threw her newborn baby out the window won’t be spending any time behind bars, but instead has been ordered to therapy, community service and probation, and must delete her Facebook account due to outrage from thousands upset over the girl’s crime.
Antonia Lopez, 16, gave birth in the middle of the night on September 30, and after throwing the child out of her second-story bedroom window, told her mother what she had done.
Her mother, “distraught and frantic,” then called 911. Both Lopez and her baby were transported to Creighton University Medical Center, but the child was pronounced dead upon arrival. The baby was determined to be between 25 and 28 weeks gestation.
Lopez allegedly told police that she didn’t know she was pregnant and therefore panicked, but her boyfriend disputed the assertion and said that he had urged Lopez to tell her mother about the pregnancy and see a doctor. He advised that she texted him at 2 a.m. the morning she gave birth, “It was a girl by the the way,” and requested help to hide the baby.
Lopez was soon arrested and charged with one count of felony child abuse resulting in death. She faced up to 20 years in prison for the crime.
However, last month, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine agreed to move Lopez’ case from district court to juvenile court since she only had a prior theft charge on her record. He opined the the best course of action for the teen would be rehabilitation.
On Friday, Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Christopher Kelly agreed, stating that the teen isn’t getting help in the Douglas County Youth Center. He ordered that the she live in a group home, obtain both individual and family therapy, serve 50 hours of community service and be placed on probation.
She must also delete her Facebook account since she received thousands of negative comments from those upset with the teen following her arrest.
