Pasco County Mom Accused Of Throwing 10-Month-Old Against Fence

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- A 26-year-old New Port Richey woman was arrested Saturday after being accused of throwing a 10-month-old baby against a wooden fence.

Pinellas Park Police responded to a child abuse complaint in the 5900 block of 72nd Avenue North on May 11 at about 6 p.m. Investigators spoke with two juvenile witnesses who live nearby who said they saw Natalee N. Sesler abusing a baby. Sesler had been visiting an unnamed man at a home in the area and had taken the baby outside.

The witnesses said she became frustrated and began cursing at the 10-month-old because the baby was unable to stand. They told police she threw her baby against a wooden fence and threw a metal rake head at him, but missed. Police say Sesler then picked up the crying baby by the leg and threw him onto a nearby lawn chair, where she again tried to prop the baby up.

The baby was wearing only a shirt with no diaper. Sesler, too, was wearing only a shirt when police arrived. The baby had a small bruise and swelling near one of his eyes and appeared to be malnourished and lethargic.

Sesler was charged with one count of child abuse, one count of child neglect, aggravated assault, resisting an officer without violence and violation of probation.

The baby was taken into protective custody and transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. He will remain at the hospital for observation and further testing before being turned over to family members by the Department of Children and Families.

Police say it appears that drugs played a role in Sesler's behavior.