MONROE — A local woman on deferred prosecution from a charge of felony elderly abuse in 2024 has been spared prison time yet again, as she faced additional charges in Green County Circuit Court for felony abuse of a child — following another May 13 incident.
Instead of state prison, she will spend at least 4 years on probation, with requirements for anger management, mental health, parenting and substance abuse services.
The woman, Sonya M. Baugus, 38, appeared in court Thursday wearing orange jail clothes and occasionally sobbing. She faced revocation on the previous charge and jail time on the newer, child-abuse case. But despite her concern that four years of probation may not work for the defendant any better than the previous two-year probation stint had, Judge Faun M. Phillipson nonetheless spared the defendant from going to prison.
“It’s all on you,” said Phillipson, noting that her primary concern is the welfare of Baugus’ children.
According to court records and criminal complaints, the alleged 2026 child abuse case resulted from a loud verbal incident on May 13 in which a concerned woman could hear a female yelling ‘no, no” from near Highlander Mall, in the 700 block of 10th Avenue in Monroe. As they could also hear yelling from inside their police cruisers, responding police then tracked the source to a residence nearby on 12th Avenue, where the defendant allegedly punched a victim in the face “with a closed fist” multiple times. She continued to fight with police and even medical staff at the hospital, police said.
As a result, she was charged with felony Child Abuse-Intentionally Cause Harm, entering a no contest plea to the charge Thursday; and bail jumping. Other charges against her, including bail jumping, were dismissed but read into the court record.
In the 2024 case, officers were dispatched to Monroe’s Leisure Lanes for a reported disturbance, according to court documents. The victim was arguing with another bar patron celebrating their 60th birthday, records allege. Some time that evening, an argument ensued — allegedly over the defendants’ children and she allegedly became violent with the birthday patron, smashing a drink glass into their face.
She was charged with felony Physical Abuse of Elder Person - Intentionally Cause Bodily Harm and bail jumping. In that case, the defendant was sentenced and a deferred prosecution agreement entered after Baugus was found guilty by no contest pleas of misdemeanor bail jumping and battery. The felony elder abuse count was dispatched with a 12-month deferred prosecution agreement, according to court records. The court on Thursday also placed her on four years’ probation in that case.
Baugus, with her children sitting behind her in the gallery, told the judge she wants to get help and change to be a better mother.
“I love my kids,” she said. “What I did was wrong.”
A parent of one of the kids previously in Baugus’ care addressed the court, providing a brief impact statement.
“I want her to get help,” he said. “Her kids are afraid of her.”