Former Nurse Rejects Plea Deal In Union County Child Abuse Case

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MONROE, N.C. — A former CMC nurse, accused of chaining an 11-year-old boy to a porch rail with a dead chicken around his neck, turns down a plea deal that would have cut his potential jail sentence in half.

Jury selection is underway in Dorian Harper’s felony child abuse trial.  He and his long-time partner Wanda Sue Larson were arrested in November 2013.  Larson is a former DSS supervisor.  If found guilty, Harper faces 14 to 26 years or more in prison.

Inside the courtroom, attorneys asked potential jurors personal questions about how they discipline their own children, including what they consider the difference between discipline and abuse.  Afterwards, Harper’s attorney Randolph Lee told WCCB why his client turned down a plea deal.

“It was conferred and discussed a bit, a great deal between all the parties involved,” said Lee.  “My client is exercising his constitutional rights for a jury trial, and we’ll see where it goes.”

Three children, including the 11-year-old victim, are scheduled to testify Wednesday.  Wanda Sue Larson could take the stand as well.  She is scheduled to go on trial in April.