Kimberly Michele Hines (Courtesy Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)
A woman convicted of filming herself abusing her 2-year-old daughter was also a victim of abuse during her childhood.
Kimberly Michelle Hines, 22, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison with nine years suspended after being charged with felony child abuse in July.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Assistant Maureen Kufro showed the judge the three videos Hines took of herself abusing her daughter —which she later sent to an ex-boyfriend, who showed them to authorities— despite an objection from Hines’ attorney Brandon Waltrip.
In the videos, the child — who now sees a therapist every two weeks — can be heard screaming and crying while her mother curses at her and yells at her to “get up” multiple times.
Authorities said Hines kicked the girl off a toilet trainer seat and threw a book, pillow and child’s toy at her in an apartment in Lafayette Village off Longhill Road.
Dr. Kevin McWilliams, a clinical psychologist with the Williamsburg Psychology Center, evaluated Hines and said her actions were partly a result of a childhood filled with abuse.
He said Hines was sexually and physically assaulted by her stepfather as a child and was later sent to live with his relatives after he was convicted of the crime.
Hines was placed in foster care when she was 14 years old and later lived with her alcoholic father, whom she was charged with stabbing with a pair of scissors while she was still a juvenile.
Hines became homeless shortly after turning 18 and began living with various men who would provide for her in exchange for sex, Waltrip said. She was also having suicidal thoughts and filmed herself hurting herself the same day she abused her child.
“She’s been a victim for most of her life, if not all of it,” Waltrip said. “We know that the cycle of abuse in this family has to end.”
McWilliams said Hines has repressed anger from the abuse she suffered as a child and needs at least one year of intense therapy before she can be reunited with her daughter, who is currently in foster care.
“[Hines] has the underlying capacity to think about other people, to care about other people,” McWilliams said.
Kufro argued Hines’ actions were premeditated.
“This is a case of mental, physical and emotional cruelty and that cruelty deserves a harsher sentence,” she said. “She needs to be punished for what she’s done.”
Waltrip asked the judge withhold a sentencing for one year to allow Hines to enter into counseling.
“That’s sort of a stretch, I know, given the circumstances,” Waltrip said.
Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty sympathized with Hines’ background of abuse.
“I think it explains things, but it doesn’t excuse them,” McGinty said, denying Waltrip’s request to withhold a sentence.
Gwen Mason, a family services specialist with Social Services, explained Hines will have to go through a comprehensive evaluation before Social Services can determine whether Hines is eligible to be reunited permanently with her daughter.
A judge will determine at a later date whether Hines is able to maintain full custody of the child.
For now, Hines is able to have supervised contact and phone calls with her daughter.
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