Woman gets time served in abuse case

Inmate enters guilty plea, to start 8 years’ probation

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Hollidaysburg woman has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in exchange for a county prison sentence, followed by eight years' probation.

Sarah Marie Strayer, 19, a county prison inmate, entered the plea Friday in Blair County Court for a sentence with nine to 23.5 months' incarceration.

Because Strayer was credited for time served, Judge Timothy M. Sullivan deemed her eligible for automatic parole.

Strayer had been in prison since Aug. 4, 2022, when she was arrested by Hollidaysburg police. Her bail was set at $100,000 cash.

In handing down the negotiated sentence, Sullivan told Strayer that she is to avoid future contact with co-defendant Ethan M. Laborde, 19, and the child who was in their care.

While Laborde was also slated Friday to enter guilty pleas for a negotiated sentence, that was postponed until June 13 after he became ill in court.

Laborde is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person. His bail is $400,000 cash.

Hollidaysburg police arrested and charged Strayer and Laborde after an investigation that started July 4, 2022, when the child, a 3.5-month-old female, was examined at Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, Roaring Spring, for bruising on her face and head.

The baby was transported to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for further evaluation, which revealed bruising, rib fractures, a torn frenulum and lacerations to her vaginal area that required surgery.

Charges filed indicated that Laborde admitted to striking the child and that Strayer described Laborde as "a little rough" with the child. The charges also reflected a doctor's assessment that Strayer would have been aware of the child's treatment based on the child's visible injuries.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.