A Burlington mother, who allegedly tried to cut her baby's face with a knife
, will no longer face an attempted first-degree murder charge.
The judge in the case dismissed the charge against Valerie Beale, 24, of Burlington, but she's still facing domestic assault charges. Beale's attorney, Leroy Yoder, filed a motion to drop the charge against Beale several weeks ago.
In July of 2009, Beale pleaded not guilty to all of the charges after police arrested her and said
she threatened to "put a smile" on her 13-month-old daughter's face while holding a small knife.
According to court documents, Beale and the toddler's father, Allen Charbonneau, got into an argument on July 26, 2009, and the baby started to cry. In the court papers, Charbonneau told police Beale came at the baby with a knife and
said if the baby was dead "I could have my own life."
After the incident, Beale's family stood by her side and said the mother didn't belong behind bars.
"I don't want her put in jail. I don't feel she belongs in jail. I feel she belongs with someone helping her mentally," said Minnie Charbonneau, Allen Charbonneau's mother, in July of 2009.
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