By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
A Clarksdale woman was sentenced to 40 years in prison on two counts of felony child abuse in Coahoma County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Shareka Jurden, 33, pleaded guilty to the two counts of child abuse for injuring her 6-year-old and 18-month-old sons by throwing them out of the window at their home on Cedar Street in Clarksdale during the early morning hours of August 9, 2020. Witnesses also testified that the sons were cut from the stabbing.
Circuit Judge Hunter Nowell ruled that Jurden would have to serve a 40-year sentence for each count of felony child abuse. However, the sentences will run concurrently, so she will be serving 40 years in prison.
Jurden was in the Coahoma County Jail with a $150,000 bond after the incident. Her bond was reduced to $15,000 on May 15. She bonded out of jail on May 15 and stayed with her cousin, Shequita, until the trial.
A jury heard the prosecution’s side of the case on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Witnesses Assistant District Attorney Patricia Booker called to the stand included Clarksdale Police Department officers and Child Protection Services employees.
Before the defense made its rebuttal, Jurden pleaded guilty, and the jury was excused.
Nowell said that since Jurden pleaded guilty, her 40-year sentence was lighter than it could have been.
Family members argued that Jurden should get help and not be in prison, but Nowell said she did not show “one ounce of emotion.”
Nowell also mentioned the 6-year-old boy’s forensic interview that was played in court.
“This was a heinous, heinous crime,” Nowell said. “Seeing that forensic interview with that child just broke my heart. It’s a miracle they didn’t bleed to death before the police got there.”
Jurden’s attorney, Wilbert Johnson, called her and family members to the stand as they pleaded for her to be able to get help instead of going to jail.
“I mistreated my kids,” Jurden said. “I still love them. They love me. I never would have done anything like that, ever.”
Jurden said she understood what she did and was on medicine and therapy while in prison. Prior to her mental breakdown, she said she was a “great mom.”
Jurden’s aunt, Lucciel Jordan, said she had many struggles throughout her life and needs help, not a jail sentence.
Jordan specifically said Jurden had been molested as a child.
“She cried out for help,” Jordan said. “All of us missed it.”
Jordan also said Jurden had a good relationship with her children prior to August 9, 2020.
“She loved her children,” Jordan said. “They loved their mom.”
Jurden’s older brother, Jeremy Jurden, currently has custody of her children.
“From the night of August 9, 2020, until now, I have seen a big change,” Jeremy Jurden said.
Jeremy Jurden said the decision should be to help Jurden instead of forgetting about her. He also said he was “1000% sure it won’t happen again.”
Shequita Jurden said Jurden was more like a sister than a cousin to her.
Shequita Jurden said, as a social worker herself, she could see her cousin needs help.
“I know my cousin up and down,” Shequita Jurden said.
Shequita Jurden also talked about how Jurden was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
Booker argued that Jurden could receive professional help, regardless of the circumstances.
“She still will be getting the help she needs, even if incarcerated,” Booker said.
Booker said Jurden’s children had to go to the hospital as a result of the injuries, and the CPD had to protect them from her.
“You will see that Shareka Jurden did not protect her children in August 2020,” Booker said.
Officer Larry Grimes of the Clarksdale Police Department testified to seeing the 6-year-old boy at the intersection of Cedar Street and Maple Avenue on August 9, 2020.
“I noticed a small kid at my truck, and he was screaming for help,” Grimes said.
Grimes said the boy was bleeding from his hip to his knee as a result of the stabbing.
“It took a while to stop the bleeding,” Grimes said. “You could see part of his intestines.”
Grimes said he spoke with Jurden.
“She was stating the devil made her do it,” Grimes said.
Officer Orlando Bell, who was with the CPD at the time and is currently with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office, provided a similar account of events.
“He was covered in blood and had several cuts on his body,” Bell said.
LaTasha Hawkins and Paige Mormoon from Child Protection Services also took the stand.
The 6-year-old boy’s interview with Child Protection Services was also played. He recounted his mother stabbing him and throwing him out the window.
