Minn. mom of once-conjoined twins pleads guilty

The mother of once-conjoined twins born in Rochester has pleaded guilty to negligence.

Twenty-three-year-old Valerie James of Mankato acknowledged Wednesday that she should have taken one of the babies to the hospital when she noticed swelling on the infant's legs three years ago.

Doctors discovered 25 fractures in Jordan James' legs, ribs and arms. The baby's father, Robert Heck, was convicted last month of assaulting the boy and awaits sentencing.

A plea agreement calls for Valerie James to receive a one-year stayed jail sentence and no jail time.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

James' attorney, Pam King, says James did not know the baby was being harmed. The boy had been surgically separated from his twin brother by Mayo Clinic doctors, then released in early 2007.

James is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 25.

---

Information from: Post-Bulletin

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)