Law | National

Social worker pleads guilty over death of Eastern Cherokee girl

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A social worker in North Carolina pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a young member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Candice Lassiter, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery. She admitted that she ordered records to be falsified in the case of Aubrey Littlejohn, a 15-month-old Eastern Cherokee girl who was in the care of the Swain County Department of Social Services.

Lassiter was due to go to trial on Monday for obstruction of justice. As part of her plea deal, she agreed to cooperate with authorities as they proceed with the case against another social worker who is set for trial in August.

Ladybird Powell pleaded guilty earlier this year to involuntary manslaughter, extortion, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of felony child abuse in connection with Aubrey's death. She is Aubrey's great-aunt.

Get the Story:
NC social worker plead guilty to obstructing justice in probe of toddler’s death (AP 4/15)
DSS Worker Pleads Guilty (WLOS-TV 4/15)
Social services worker pleads guilty in case of child's death (The Smoky Mountain Times 4/15)
Trials set for social workers in child's death (AP 4/13)