Mom of drowned OKC toddler sentenced to prison

By Jay F. Marks

Published: September 5, 2008

An Oklahoma City mother was sentenced today to five years in prison for allowing her 3-year-old son to drown in the bathtub in March 2007.

Alzaina Marie Barnard pleaded guilty in June to two counts of child neglect.

Authorities accused her of leaving two of her three children in the tub for several hours March 21 while she played cards on the Internet.

Barnard’s attorney, Robert Groshon, said William Barnard’s death was an accident. He urged Oklahoma County District Judge Virgil C. Black not to sentence Barnard to prison.

Prosecutor Jimmy Harmon recommended a five-year prison, noting Barnard’s children had been taken into protective custody by Oklahoma City police only days before William died because their home was so filthy.

The judge remarked on Barnard’s repeated contacts with child welfare workers in Oklahoma and Texas before sentencing her to prison.

Barnard was sentenced to five years in prison and an additional 10 years of probation.

Jay F. Marks: 475-3481, jmarks@oklahoman.com