Mother pleads guilty to serious abuse of her infant

A mother who fractured her infant son’s skull in Carter County has pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated child abuse Friday and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Christina Niles pleaded guilty. Prosecutors said her infant son suffered from a fractured skull, a broken arm, and other injuries. Niles admitted to throwing a toy truck and striking the infant in the head. This is when she believes the infant suffered the fractured skull. Niles also admitted to previously holding the infant’s foot over the flame of a candle for about two minutes “because she was frustrated.”