Man who whipped stepchildren with extension cord hears fate
Share and Follow

Lerenzo Legardy (Dona Ana County Jail).

A New Mexico man who took an extension cord and whipped his teenage stepchildren after he caught them playing with his Alexa device is headed to prison.

Lerenzo Legardy, 53, was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison followed by two years probation, according to local Fox affiliate KFOX. A jury convicted Legardy in May on one count of third-degree child abuse in May, the Doña Ana County District Attorney”s Office said.

As a result of the beating, the kids were bleeding from the welts on their arms and legs. Prosecutors were still able to secure a conviction despite the fact that the court did not allow the victims to testify.

But their older brother did take the stand and his “courageous” account helped lead to a conviction and “deliver justice on behalf of his younger siblings,” prosecutors said.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Jurors took just 20 minutes to come back with a guilty verdict.

“Our office is committed to ensuring justice be done and letting a victim’s voice be heard even when they themselves cannot speak,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson said in a statement.

Legardy’s wife Yvonne Legardy was also facing child abuse charges but her cases were dismissed, according to court records. As Law&Crime previously reported, she was arrested twice in one week in July 2024 for abuse of a child.

According to a report from KFOX, the initial incident took place on May 31, 2024. A probable cause affidavit obtained by the station states that Yvonne Legardy’s 14-year-old son fled from his home and went to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library seeking assistance. The boy reportedly claimed that his mother had beaten him with the handle of a blue metal mop.

More from Law&Crime: ‘Maybe they won’t remember’: Mother gets 20 years – most under house arrest – for abusing her 18-month-old children

Officers with the Las Cruces Police Department responded to the scene and spoke to the boy, who claimed that his bother beat him for failing to “properly” clean up their backyard. Police said the child had visible injuries which included welts on his body that appeared to match the diameter of the mop handle.

Police then went to the Legardy home in the 1700 block of Webster Avenue where she claimed her son lied about their violent encounter. Instead, Yvonne Legardy reportedly told police that she was attempting to search her son for “contraband” when he suddenly ran off. However, officers at the home also said they observed a blue metal mop in the garage that was visibly damaged in a manner consistent with the beating described by the child.

As investigators were looking into the initial allegations levied against her, they reportedly learned about a disturbing incident that began with her discovering a single vaping device and ultimately ended with her pepper-spraying several of her children.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Police Report: Man Allegedly Planted Bomb in Former Landlord’s Lawn Mower

Background: The area of 7900 State Route 22 in Salem Township, Pennsylvania…

Man Arrested in Oregon for Washington State Murder of 23-Year-Old Mom

An arrest has been made in a deadly shooting in Washington state…

James Craig Murder Trial: Prosecutors Say Former Dentist ‘Meticulously’ Planned Wife’s Poisoning Death, Jury Deliberates

The fate of former Colorado dentist James Craig is in a Centennial…

ASP Releases Sketch, Photo of Suspect Who Killed Couple Hiking with Children, Says He’s Likely Injured

The Arkansas State Police say that a suspect, accused of killing two…

Authorities Report Woman Set House on Fire After Applying for a Burn Permit

Background: the Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri (Greene County Sheriff”s Office).…

Shocked Neighbor Discovers Mississippi Mother of Two Deceased in Bathroom

The Sunday evening child exchange began as usual in Jackson, Mississippi. On May…

Authorities Report: Mother Leaves for Walk as House Catches Fire with Children Inside

Inset: Kirstin D. Bowers (Shelby County Jail). Background: Bowers’ home after a…

UPDATE: Barricaded Suspect Fatally Shot by Deputy

ASO Captain Chris Sims speaks about the ongoing incident Staff report GAINESVILLE,…