Florida Mother Had Daughter's Genitalia Pierced To Stop Sex

A woman who had her 13-year-old daughter's genitalia pierced to make it uncomfortable for her to have sex has been acquitted of aggravated child abuse.

The girl, who is now 16, told the court that her mother asked a friend to shave the girl's head to make her unattractive to boys and later held her down for the piercing so she wouldn't want to have sex.

A jury deliberated for about three hours before deciding the mother's actions didn't involve punishment, malicious intent, or cause permanent damage or disfigurement.

"She was trying to protect me, but it hurt me," the girl said before the verdict. "It not only hurt me physically, but it hurt me mentally... That's emotionally scarring. That's physical abuse."

Prosecutors said the mother called on a friend to shave the girl's head and do the piercing after realizing that she had been having sex -- with the mother's boyfriend.

The mother's attorneys said she had trouble with her rebellious daughter and that the girl agreed to the piercing to help rebuild her mother's trust.

Police found out after child welfare officials were called once the girl became infected from the piercing.

The 39-year-old woman, whose name wasn't released to protect the daughter's identity since she is a minor, could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges. An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother's boyfriend for having sex with a minor.

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