Couple plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter of son
A husband and wife accused of abuse leading to the death of their minor son entered a plea of no contest to involuntary manslaughter Monday afternoon at the Imperial County Superior Court.
Selena Renee Skipper, 39, and Jordan Wallace Skipper, 34, each faced two counts of willful harm/injury to a child, and one count of involuntary manslaughter. Their son, 2-month-old Eric Skipper, died in August 2017 due to causes attributed to severe neglect.
The couple originally entered pleas of not guilty on all counts. However, on Monday, they changed their pleas, as their attorneys reached a deal with the Imperial District Attorney’s Office. The plea deal eliminated all charges other than involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of four years.
Each defendant will serve a straight, three-year sentence in county jail, with probation denied and no supervision upon release.
Judge Poli Flores accepted the change of plea, and subsequently granted the Skippers, who have been in custody at the Imperial County Jail since mid-2020, a Cruz waiver.
This waiver allowed the two to be released on their own recognizance as of Monday under the promise they would appear and self-surrender to the court on the day of their scheduled sentencing hearing at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24
he Skippers’ arrest followed an investigation by the Brawley Police Department. Selena Skipper was taken into custody at her residence on Branch Street in Hallsville, Texas, and was transferred to the ICJ on July 14, 2020.
Jordan Skipper was arrested about 11 p.m. on July 19, 2020, at a residence on West Malan Street in Brawley.
He was subsequently booked into the County Jail at 1 a.m. on July 20, 2020.
The Skippers were each booked on $50,000 bail for willful cruelty to a child.
In August 2020, the two were each rebooked with $500,000 bail, as well as with the addition of an “any hold” charge, meaning an additional charge was pending.