Two plead innocent to abusing 4-year-old

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) -- Two Sequoyah County women are pleading innocent to child abuse charges in the beating and starving of a 4-year-old Braggs boy.<br/><br/>Brenna Smith and her mother, Sharon Smith,

Friday, October 7th 2005, 9:46 am

By: News On 6

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) -- Two Sequoyah County women are pleading innocent to child abuse charges in the beating and starving of a 4-year-old Braggs boy.

Brenna Smith and her mother, Sharon Smith, are charged in Sequoyah County District Court. The boy was found starving, beaten, handcuffed and locked in a closet in Sharon Smith's home in Gore.

Prosecutors say the two women are related to the boy and baby-sat him while his mother and stepfather worked. The mother and stepfather also face child abuse charges.

Prosecutors say they expect trial for the Smiths to begin in February.