Former HS woman pleads guilty to felony battery for injury to mother's eye

Rankin
Rankin

A former Hot Springs woman who seriously injured her mother's eye during an altercation in 2017 was sentenced to six years' probation Monday after pleading guilty to a felony battery charge in Garland County Circuit Court.

Jessica Ellyse Rankin, 29, who now lists an address in New Blaine in Logan County, pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and in addition to probation was fined $5,000, ordered to complete an anger management course and pay $420 in court costs and fees.

Deputy Prosecutor Ron Jones said Wednesday Rankin's mother was at the hearing and had agreed to the plea deal because she didn't want her daughter going to prison.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 23, 2017, shortly after 4:30 p.m., Hot Springs police responded to a residence on Daffodil Street regarding a battery and spoke to Rankin's mother who stated she and her daughter had been in an argument.

She said she had refused to let Rankin into the residence because she suspected she was abusing meth and didn't trust her. She said she opened the front door, but left the metal locking mechanism locked, allowing the door to be cracked slightly while remaining locked.

As the two exchanged an item through the cracked doorway, Rankin kicked the door open with the victim standing on the other side. When the door flew open, the protrusion in the latch impacted the victim's right eye, causing bleeding and swelling.

On Sept. 27, Rankin's mother told Detective Patrick Langley her eye was "collapsed" and she had no vision in it at all. She had reportedly undergone one surgery but was told numerous follow-up surgeries may be required. Even then, her loss of vision could be permanent.

Jones said he couldn't comment on the victim's current medical condition.

A warrant was issued for Rankin's arrest and she was featured on the police department's social media page for it's "Warrant Wednesday" post which attracted a lot of attention and even Rankin commented on the post at one point, prompting police to urge her to turn herself in.

Rankin surrendered to the police on Oct. 16, 2017, and was released two days later on $2,500 bond. Rankin had pleaded not guilty to the charge on Jan. 2, 2018, and the case had been continued multiple times. She was set to stand trial on Jan. 28, 2019, but opted to plead guilty instead.

Local on 01/17/2019

Upcoming Events