The woman left her children alone to go shopping two years ago, authorities have said
TRENTON - A woman who left her three young children unattended when one of them fell out a window two years ago, did not receive jail time for the incident Friday.
Sherell Thom, 29 Instead, Sherell Thom, 29, was given two years probation during a court appearance Friday morning.
The decision comes after the August, 2014 incident when Thom left her three children - aged 4 to 10-years-old - alone in her Trenton home while she went shopping, Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw said in court Friday.
Thom's 4-year-old daughter fell out of a window while the children were left unattended.
Initial reports said the toddler was injured from the fall but Thom's attorney refuted that claim in court Friday.
Both Thom and her husband, Rashaud Thom, were initially charged with endangering the welfare of children for the incident.
But that charge was knocked down after Sherell Thom took a plea deal in February and pleaded guilty to fourth degree child abuse in exchange for probation. It was a far cry from an earlier deal she was offered last year that would have given Thom a 5-year sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to the endangering charge.
Thom addressed the court Friday, saying that she regretted her actions and was working on the custody arrangement for her children.
"I am truly apologetic for my actions... (My children and I) have moved forward and this is the last piece that remains to be put behind us," Thom said.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.