By Joe Johnson
An Athens woman has been sentenced to probation for using her fists to disciple her juvenile children.
Patricia Marie Jewell, 31, was arrested in December for punching her daughter repeatedly in the head and her son in the stomach.
A grand subsequently indicted her on two counts each of first-degree cruelty to children and simple battery under the state Family Violence Act.
Jewell last month entered into an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to all charges in return for a sentence of eight years of probation that’s conditional on her participation in the Treatment and Accountability Court program and securing court-approved housing.
Jewell is not to have any contact with her children that’s not approved by the Department of Family and Children Services and she must comply with any DFCS safety's plan.