Attorney General's News Release

March 24, 2011

Dent County woman found guilty of child endangerment

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster said today that Billie Jo Guerra has been found guilty of 1st degree endangering the welfare of a child. Reynolds County Judge Kelly Parker heard the case on a change of venue.

Koster said evidence presented at trial established that Guerra was present when her boyfriend, Timmy Lynn Chandler, shook her 15-month-old daughter, causing permanent brain damage to the child. Guerra failed to stop Chandler from shaking the baby, nor did she report the incident to authorities or seek prompt medical attention for her daughter. Chandler pled guilty to child abuse in 2008 and is serving a seven-year sentence.

Koster said Guerra will be sentenced on May 10 and faces up to seven years in prison.