ST. GEORGE -- Solicitor Ralph Hoisington has agreed to approve a $50,000 personal recognizance bond for Renee Britt and to drop the charge against her of homicide by child abuse to obstruction of justice in the death of her six-year-old autistic son.

Both Renee Britt and her husband Terrence Britt of St. George have been in jail since last January in the 2001 death of their son Gabriel. Terrence Britt pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct towards a child just after the trial began this week.

The parents had been jailed without bond on charges of homicide by child abuse, aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse, unlawful conduct towards a child, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in the death of their youngest son.

Gabriel Britt was reported missing from his home in the rural Texas community outside of St. George, and his body was found in a nearby pond eight days later. Authorities eventually ruled that the boy had suffered blunt force trauma to the abdomen and that the cause of death was traumatic asphyxia, and they determined the death to be a homicide.

After more than two years of investigation by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, the trial of both parents began with jury selection and opening arguments this week. Just before expert testimony was to begin on Wednesday morning, Terrence Britt pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct towards a child and received a sentence of 10 years. Britt will serve four years of that term, with credit given for time already served. If convicted of the homicide by child abuse charge, he could have received 20 years to life.

Gabriel Britt had gotten out of the Britt house before, and the parents had nailed the back door shut to keep the boy from going outside without supervision. Terrence Britt had always said he may have left the key to the front door somewhere where the boy could have found it on the morning that he disappeared. The parents' lawyers have both contended that the child unlocked the front door and ran off to look for his dog.

In declaring his guilt to Circuit Judge Jimmy Williams, Britt admitted that he should have done more to keep the child secured inside the home.

A mistrial was declared in the case against Renee Britt, with Judge Williams stating that her case will be continued until such time as the solicitor deems appropriate. The current circuit court term ended Friday.

Hoisington, in an interview Friday, that if he were to move forward in the case against Renee Britt, it would be quite some time, since the defense would have to have a chance to review all prior motions, hearings and the judge's rulings. He said that he would not be able to move forward in the criminal case against Renee Britt at any time in the immediate future but added that he may be able to make a decision on the case "rather quickly."

T&D Correspondent Stephanie Pietrowski can be reached by e-mail at SPietro122@aol.com or by phone at 843-636-9005.

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