BY KEITH EPPS
A man who served time for his role in the fatal beating of a 2-year-old girl in 1999 is once again accused of harming a child.
Larry Allen Gathers Jr., 32, was indicted by a Stafford County grand jury earlier this month on five charges—two counts of aggravated sexual battery and three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
Details regarding the new allegations weren’t clear yesterday, but court records show that the alleged incidents occurred in June 2006 and June of this year.
He had not been arrested as of today.
Gathers served three years in prison for his role in the April 1999 death of 2-year-old Lesshayvia Traylor. She died from internal bleeding as the result of a blow to the stomach, an autopsy report showed.
The girl had been hit or kicked in the stomach at least two other times, a medical examiner testified, and had multiple bruises and burn marks when she died.
Prosecutor Eric Olsen was criticized for the plea agreement that allowed Gathers to serve just three years. But Olsen explained at the time that he wasn’t sure at the time if he could prove whether Gathers or the child’s mother delivered the fatal blow.
If either had been acquitted of the charge, Olsen said, their baby boy—who was born the day before Lesshayvia died—might have been returned to their custody and faced the same abuse as his sister.
Gathers pleaded guilty to two counts of felony child abuse. The child’s mother pleaded guilty to one count and served six months in prison. Gathers admitted during his sentencing that he hit the child.
This isn’t the first time Gathers has been in trouble since his release from prison.
Court records show that he’s been convicted of two probation violations and charges of filing a false police report and obstructing justice.
He was also arrested on domestic assault and other charges following a 2004 incident in the Paradise Mobile Home Park in central Stafford.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
kepps@freelancestar.com