Woman arrested after son allegedly found with severe burns, cocaine in system
A local woman was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for felony endangerment after her 2-year-old son was allegedly found to have severe burns and cocaine in his system when she brought him in for treatment last month.
Rhea Celeste Southern, 26, who lists a Convention Boulevard address, was taken into custody shortly before 8:30 a.m. at the Hot Springs Police Department and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Southern, who has no prior felony history, was later released on a $10,000 bond and is set to appear on Feb. 28 in Garland County District Court. According to court records, she pleaded no contest on Oct. 21, 2020, to misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but seven days suspended, and one year of supervised probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 29, police responded to National Park Medical Center,
1910 Malvern
Ave., regarding the possible sexual assault of a 2-year-old male.
Officers spoke to the child’s mother, who stated she had discovered the injuries to her son upon her return home after leaving him alone for two hours on Jan. 28.
The affidavit notes the victim had “large, second-degree burns” to the inside of both legs, and “discoloration to the penis and buttocks area.” The discoloration was determined by hospital staff to be the result of “severe diaper rash,” but there was no cause determined for the burns.
The victim was transported from NPMC to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock by LifeNet “for further medical attention to his burns.” While at the hospital there, a urine screening was conducted which allegedly showed a positive reaction for cocaine in his system.
After further investigation, a felony warrant was issued for Southern’s arrest and she turned herself in.