A Barnegat woman was indicted yesterday in connection with the 2015 incident involving injuries sustained by a 2-month-old child in an Atlantic City casino, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.
According to authorities, on May 25, 2015 Atlantic City Police and emergency medical services responded to the Bally’s Atlantic Hotel and Casino at approximately 7:30 p.m. for a report of an infant having difficulty breathing.
After assessment and treatment by medical services, the child was airlifted to Children Hospital of Philadelphia, in critical condition.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Atlantic City Police Department, and the State Division of Protection and Permanency (CP&P) initiated an investigation that culminated with the authorization of charges by the Atlantic County Prosecutor on April 26, 2016 for aggravated assault and child endangerment against the mother of the child, Ashley M. Godfrey, 19, of Barnegat.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives arrested Godfrey on April 27, 2016, at her place of employment in Tom’s River, charged her with:
Aggravated Assault, for “recklessly causing life-threatening injuries,” to her 2- month-old child, and
Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both crimes of the 2nd degree.
Godfrey was transported to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, processes on the arrest, and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, on $100,000 /no 10% bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia Wild.
Yesterday afternoon, the Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Godfrey on the two charges.
The potential penalty if convicted of a 2nd degree crime is 5-10 years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison.