Calia Harris
Calia Harris in court with her attorney, Mark Mariotti on June 12. Harris pleaded not guilty to charges that she told her goddaughter to beat up an autistic girl.
(Ida Lieszkovszky, NEOMG)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland woman pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that she instructed her goddaughter to beat up a 12-year-old autistic girl.
Calia Harris, 30, was indicted on charges of aggravated riot, inciting violence, felonious assault, contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child, assault, and two counts of abduction.
According to court records, Harris and four others repeatedly told her goddaughter, also 12, to assault the autistic girl on April 29 at the King Kennedy Estates, a Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority property. Court records state that Harris told her goddaughter to "beat her ass" and "punch that b---- in the face."
Each girl accused the other of starting the fight by taunting, according to court records. Records do not say whether either girl was seriously injured in the fight.
Harris has a prior conviction for felonious assault from 2009. She was sentenced to probation for that assault.
Harris has already made her bond of $10,000 and was ordered not to have any contact with the victim.
Her first court appearance is scheduled for June 17 before Common Pleas Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula.