THE NEWS DESK
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No bond for grandma in burning case
RELATED: See more crime news from the Fredericksburg region
RELATED: Read more CRIME stories from the Fredericksburg region.
A Stafford County grandmother accused of burning her four grandchildren as punishment for ordering a pay-per-view movie without permission was ordered Monday to remain in jail.
Valleshia Margaret Griffin, 51, was denied bond in Stafford Circuit Court. Griffin has been in jail since her arrest Dec. 5 and has been denied bond at least twice.
According to court records and the evidence, the burning incidents occurred Dec. 2 at a home on England Pointe Drive in southern Stafford.
Prosecutor Michael Hardiman said the oldest child, 9, upset her grandmother by ordering the movie “Spider-Man” on pay-per-view.
Hardiman said Griffin punished the child by burning her arm and hands on a stovetop.
Three younger children were also burned as a form of discipline, Hardiman said.
Two of the children suffered third-degree burns, Hardiman said, and the oldest one still needs skin grafts. The other two children weren’t injured as badly.
Court records show that an adult family member sent pictures of the injuries to another adult in hopes of getting treatment advice.
The same adult also called a nurse hotline before the children were taken for medical treatment two days after the incident.
An affidavit for a search warrant stated that the children were instructed to lie about what happened, but the ensuing investigation led to Griffin.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Grimstead sought Griffin’s release, saying she is a church-going woman and no threat to society.
Hardiman disagreed, citing the “grievous” injuries suffered by the children. Judge Theodore Markow agreed with Hardiman.
Griffin is currently facing nine felony charges, including aggravated malicious wounding, two counts of attempted malicious wounding and multiple counts of child cruelty.
A two-day jury trial is scheduled to start June 25.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
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