Plea deal rejected for Arnold woman accused of assaulting autistic son

A Westmoreland County judge rejected a proposed plea bargain for an Arnold woman accused of strangling her 6-year-old autistic son.

Police charged Elena Lovorn, 28, with strangulation, child endangerment, reckless endangerment and simple assault in connection with an incident in early January. Authorities said Lovorn took her son into a bathroom after he soiled himself and, when they emerged, the child had a swollen and bruised eye, cuts to his neck and behind the ear, and a swollen, fat lip, according to the court records.

Prosecutors said Lovorn agreed to accept a plea bargain that called for her to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in jail. That proposal was below standard sentencing guidelines that dictate she receive a penalty of 18 to 30 months behind bars, according to Assistant District Attorney Jim Hopson.

Hathaway said the proposed deal did not include a long enough sentence.

“I won’t accept a sentence that is outside the guidelines,” said Judge Rita Hathaway.

Hopson said he did not know why Lovorn was offered a deal below state guidelines. Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek, the primary prosecutor on the case, could not be reached for comment.

Assistant Public Defender Greg Cecchetti said Lovorn will not accept any new plea deal that would require her to serve more than two years in state prison.

Lovorn is currently being held at Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

A date for her trial has not been scheduled.