Protesters: Lonzie's mom deserved a stronger sentence

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two weeks after Lonna Lauramore Barton was sentenced to five years in prison for child neglect, protesters are still fighting her sentence.

They say Barton was let off too easy. Wanda Ebron, the mother of Ruben Ebron -- who is serving a 20-year sentence -- organized a small protest calling for State Attorney Angela Corey to be removed from office.

Lauramore Barton's former boyfriend Ruben Ebron pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of 21-month-old Lonzie Barton.

Ebron's family believes Lonzie's mother deserved a stronger sentence.

Ebrons parents were not at this protest on Monday, but Ebron’s aunt was and she said this isn’t just about her nephew’s case. She said Angela Corey needs to be removed and because of her, there has been injustice in many cases in Duval County. But the State Attorney’s Office said these were the fact finding charges they could bring against Lauramore Barton

When Barton was sentenced to five years in prison for child neglect and lying to police, Ebron’s family expressed their frustrations.

Ebron’s parents have been vocal since the sentencing, claiming Lauramore Barton's sentence was not fair in comparison to their son's sentence

The state said this case was prosecuted based on the facts

Corey said herself when Lonzie was found that there was not enough evidence to bring more charges against Barton, something that does not sit well with Ebron’s family.

“She didn't want to get in front of the cameras because her baby is missing -- she knew what happened to her baby but they were so dead bent on making Ruben out of a murderer when it was actually an accident,” Ebron’s aunt said.

We reached out to the State Attorney's Office Sunday afternoon. A spokesperson gave us this statement:

“The tragic death of Lonzie Barton united and brought much of this community together. His memory should not be used now to divide and rip it apart to further anyone's personal agenda. We cannot prosecute cases based on what we believe happened. We prosecute cases based on the facts that we can prove. The Defendant is being held accountable on the charges in which we can prove. There are pending matters regarding this case and we will not comment further at this time.”

We have been back and forth with the State Attorney’s Office since this protest was being organized and one of the things they did emphasize is that they cannot prosecute based on feelings but on facts.

Cox Media Group