Woman gets probation for beating child with wire hanger

A 35-year-old woman who beat up and injured a 4-year-old girl with a wire hanger has pleaded guilty and was handed a two-year supervised probation sentence.

Bao Fang Li Mangarero pleaded guilty to child abuse or neglect.

In an order last week, Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja sentenced Mangarero to five years imprisonment, all suspended.

She was given credit for one day of time served. She was placed on supervised probation for two years. One of the conditions bar her from any violent contact with the girl and other minors.

Mangarero was required to attend 40 hours of counseling and was ordered to pay $280 probation fee and $100 court costs.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Mangarero repeatedly hit the minor, who was in her care, with a wire hanger, hard enough to leave bruises and welts on her buttocks on Sept. 13, 2016, on Saipan.

Assistant public defender Michael Sato served as her counsel. Chief Prosecutor Michelle Harris represented the government.

Police saw red and purple bruises on the child’s buttock and on her left arm.

Due to pain from the injuries, an officer had to carry the child to the other examination room in the hospital.

It was a staff of a day care center who reported the matter to the Division of Youth Services after she noticed the girl’s injuries.

During an interview with police, Mangarero admitted spanking the girl’s buttocks using a plastic hanger. Mangarero said she was angry because the girl lied to her.

Mangarero is the stepmother of the child. At that time, the girl had just arrived on Saipan from China four months prior, according to police.