Former Union Co. DSS supervisor released from jail

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Just after noon Wednesday, jail officials in Union County released the woman who said she turned a blind eye to abuse of a boy in her care.

Wanda Larson walked out of jail at 12:20 p.m., about 80 minutes after the jail started its release process for inmates.

Last week, a judge sentenced Larson to up to 17 months in jail. The reason she's getting out Wednesday though is that those 17 months included her time already served in jail, since police arrested her in November, 2013.

The former Union County DSS supervisor admitted she did nothing to stop her boyfriend, Dorian Harper, from chaining an 11-year-old boy to a porch with a dead chicken around his neck.

That boy was under her care.

Last week, dozens of protestors -- including the biological mother of the boy, gathered at the Union County courthouse, upset that Larson is already getting out of jail. The boy's mother told Channel 9 that Larson should have gone to trial and the boy should have a chance to testify.

Larson' boyfriend, Harper, has already been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Larson will be on probation for five and a half years and Channel 9 has learned that she won't be sent to another state to serve out that probation.

Past coverage:

• Ex-guardian of boy shackled to porch to be released from jail
• Man accused in Union County child abuse case pleads guilty
• Couple accused of tying dead chicken around boy's neck could face foreclosure
• Union Co. leaders' plan to overhaul child welfare
• DSS: 5 social workers fired, manager demoted after child abuse case
• NCDHHS releases findings on Union Co. DSS after abuse allegations
• Man accused of chaining boy to porch faces more charges
• Changes made to DSS after boy found handcuffed to porch
• Union Co. commissioners assume responsibilities of Human Services Board
• State official sought help for Union County boy after suspected abuse
• Indictment: Union Co. boy's finger broken, burned with electrical wire
• Union Co. commissioners dissolve board after child abuse case
• Woman accused of handcuffing child to porch fired from DSS supervisor job
• DSS supervisor charged with child abuse disciplined in past
• Child found handcuffed to porch with dead chicken around neck

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