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Flowers gets probation on child neglect charges

One-year jail sentence suspended

Photo by Evan Bevins Former Parkersburg Finance Director Ashley Flowers, right, asks a question after Wood County Circuit Court Judge Robert Waters sentenced her Monday to one year in jail, suspended for three years probation. Flowers pleaded guilty in February to two misdemeanor counts of child neglect creating risk of injury.

PARKERSBURG — A former city finance director who pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of child neglect creating risk of injury won’t spend any time in jail, as long as she follows the conditions of her probation.

Ashley Nicole Flowers, 32, was sentenced Monday to one year in jail, suspended for three years probation, by Wood County Circuit Court Judge Robert Waters. The sentence includes 120 days at the North Central Regional Jail, with dates and times determined by her probation officer, “to emphasize the wrongness of her conduct and to facilitate rehabilitation,” the judge said.

“However, these days may be waived in whole or in part for good behavior,” Waters said. “As long as she maintains good behavior, I don’t expect that jail time to be used.”

Other conditions of Flowers’ suspended sentence include 200 to 300 hours of community service, mental health counseling, prescription drug monitoring, parenting education and therapy.

Flowers was arrested on Feb. 11, 2015, after leaving her two young daughters unattended in an unlocked car in the Grand Central Mall parking lot in Vienna.

Court documents show Flowers said she went to a cell phone kiosk at the mall to see if her phone had been bugged.

Her arrest came as leaked electronic files indicating she’d had an affair with then-Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell were becoming public and allegations of financial mismanagement were made against both of them. The Wood County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges following a West Virginia State Police investigation, and the West Virginia Ethics Commission dismissed complaints against Newell.

Flowers admitted to and apologized for the affair. Newell never addressed it. He eventually resigned to retire on the eve of a hearing before a three-judge panel to determine whether he could remain in office.

Flowers, who had been placed on paid leave after her arrest, was terminated by Newell’s successor, Mayor Jimmy Colombo, for what he termed job-related reasons.

Flowers was originally charged with two felony counts of child endangerment, and pleaded guilty in February to the lesser included charges of misdemeanor child neglect creating risk of injury.

On Monday, Flowers addressed Waters before he pronounced the sentence.

“I’ve always had to do things on my own, and I should have asked for help during what was one of the most stressful times of my life,” she said.

“It’s a mistake I’ll never make again. Those children are my life,” Flowers said.

Flowers’ attorney, Joe Munoz, said his client has taken full responsibility for leaving her children in the car and has already been significantly punished for it, including “public shaming” in the press and on social media. He noted that through another court proceeding, Flowers had regained and been granted sole custody of her children.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Miss Flowers is a wonderful mother,” he said.

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure recommended Flowers be sentenced to jail on one of the charges and home confinement or probation on the other. It wasn’t just the cold weather that endangered the children, he said, noting there are approximately 250 registered sex offenders living in Wood County.

“Anyone that was going by could have … gotten access to the car,” Lefebure said.

The prosecutor also questioned the extent to which Flowers took responsibility.

“It’s never that she just simply made a bad decision … it’s always because of what the media has done or the public has done or what social media has done,” he said.

Waters said that while his initial reaction was that jail time was appropriate, Lefebure was the only one recommending it. The arresting officers recommended alternative sentencing, and a Child Protective Services representative did not suggest a jail sentence, he said.

Waters questioned the length of time which it took Flowers’ to accept responsibility, noting the trial had been delayed multiple times when she was represented previously by attorney Eric Powell.

“You have taken responsibility now, but it was a long time coming,” Waters said.

Munoz said he could not speak to what previous counsel had done but suggested Flowers started taking responsibility during that time in the form of the other court proceeding, which required counseling, therapy and more.

Waters said he took into account the seriousness of what Flowers did, as well as the fact that she had no prior criminal record and had been gainfully employed until two years ago.

“This defendant is not our typical defendant, so the court expects a lot from her behavior, and it will also require a lot,” he said.

Waters said the issues in which Flowers was involved at the City of Parkersburg were “a total, separate matter.”

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