Mother Charged with Child Abuse

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Deirdre L. Pina, 51, of Middletown, was charged on April 29 at 12:45 p.m. with felony second degree child abuse. She was accused of hitting her 12-year-old daughter with a broom. According to police, the 12-year-old girl called 911 and reported the mother. The girl later told police she was upset because she wanted to stay over at her aunt's house and her mother would not allow it. She went upstairs to call her father, but her mother followed her into a bedroom and allegedly hit her on the upper leg with the broom. Then the mother allegedly hit her on the right forearm with the handle. Police arrested the mother and called the girl's father, who came to pick up the child.