An Oregon woman who tried to circumcise her 3-month-old son with a box-cutter was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to get her head examined.
Keemonta Peterson, 30, of Portland, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal mistreatment, The Oregonian newspaper reported Monday.
“The reality is you love your children and had absolutely no intent to harm your child,” Judge Eric Bergstrom told Peterson at the sentencing Monday.
Peterson wanted to have her son circumcised after being inspired by reading the Old Testament, but decided to do it herself because she thought he was too old for doctors to perform the procedure on him, the paper reported.
She studied a few YouTube videos on circumcision, then grabbed a box-cutter and tried to make believe she was a surgeon.
Her less-than-expert handiwork caused the boy to bleed profusely and suffer intense pain, forcing her to call 911 for some professional medical help, the paper reported.
Cops arrested her later.
According to the paper, the boy completely recovered and is now living with his three siblings under the state’s care. Peterson is allowed to see the children during supervised visits.
Her lawyer, Scott Raivio, said the circumcision was “an aberration during a down period in her life” and that Peterson has shown herself to be “a very natural, caring and loving mother.”
Judge Bergstrom also ordered her to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Circumcision is normally done before the newborn is a month old, but it can be done on older boys and even adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In cases where the procedure is performed on older children or adults, patients may need to be put under general anesthesia and have additional precautions taken to prevent excessive bleeding.
