Karen Ta-Shae Coleman
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Forsyth County woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in a child abuse case involving a premature infant who suffered multiple skull fractures and life-threatening injuries in 2023.
Karen Ta-Shae Coleman was sentenced June 4 in Forsyth County Superior Court after pleading guilty to two counts of felony child abuse by reckless or grossly negligent omission resulting in serious physical injury. Judge Aaron Jay Berlin imposed an active sentence of eight to 19 months in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Coleman received credit for 16 days already served.
The charges stem from an April 19, 2023 incident involving Coleman’s infant daughter, who had been released from the neonatal intensive care unit just one week earlier after being born prematurely at 27 weeks.
According to court records, the child was rushed to the hospital following what medical professionals described as a near-fatal event. Doctors found the infant suffered three skull fractures, a large collection of blood and fluid around the brain, and extensive bleeding and fluid around the spinal cord.
Medical experts determined the injuries were highly concerning for abusive head trauma and were not consistent with an accidental injury. One physician concluded the child likely would not have survived without emergency medical intervention.
In September 2023, Coleman and the child’s father, Patrick Nicholson, were charged with felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious physical injury and felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
As part of the plea agreement, Coleman admitted guilt to the lesser charges of child abuse by reckless or grossly negligent omission resulting in serious physical injury. The plea resolved the case without a jury trial.
In addition to the prison sentence, Coleman was ordered to have no contact with the victim or the child’s adoptive parents, provide a DNA sample, and complete parenting classes and any recommended educational or vocational programs. The court also recommended her for work release while incarcerated.
