Florence woman charged in abuse case

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A Florence woman faces charges of aggravated child abuse in Franklin County after allegedly abusing a six-year-old boy.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said investigators with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation arrested Sharon Cozart, 43, of 2166 Belview Road in Florence, Wednesday after the grand jury returned an indictment for aggravated child abuse.
According to the indictment, Cozart is charged with striking the boy in the mouth and on the head numerous times so hard that boy's ears were blackened. The indictment also alleges that Cozart shoved a dishtowel in the boy's mouth, and pulled and stretched his penis as part of his punishment.
Rushing said Cozart is not charged with sexual abuse because the sexual gratification was not the purpose, but conflicting pain on the child was the reason behind pulling his private parts.
According to the indictment, the alleged incidents occurred in August 2008 in Phil Campbell, where Cozart was a roommate of the boys' mother.
Rushing said the boy has been placed with other family members since the abuse.
Because of the nature of the abuse, Rushing asked for high bond, which was granted by Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey, who set bond at $100,000.
Rushing said aggravated child abuse is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. However, Cozart could receive life due to her prior convictions if found guilty.
"The prior felonies are not abuse related, but they are felony convictions which show Ms. Cozart is a habitual offender," Rushing said.
Cozart remains in the Franklin County Detention Center until bond is posted.