Brooksville woman charged with child abuse

A Brooksville woman was charged with child abuse this morning following complaints that she didn't properly take care of her son's dental health needs.

Vanessa Wright, 30, was transported to the Hernando County Jail after authorities claim that on four separate occasions she didn't follow through with dental treatment for her 5-6 year-old son, resulting in a hospital trip in July to All Children's Hospital in Tampa to treat infection. The Florida Department of Children and Families is also investigating the matter.

According to sheriff's reports, Wright originally took the child to the Hernando County Health Department in October 2008 to treat his teeth. After not following through with treatment, she took him for treatment in February 2009 to Cobbe Dental & Orthodontics in Spring Hill where the boy was given the same diagnosis. Again, treatment allegedly wasn't followed through.

Following the July hospital visit, the boy was again referred to Cobbe Dental in August, however Wright again allegedly didn't follow through with treatment.

Wright reportedly had Medicaid that would've covered the cost for the dental treatment at no cost to her.

Bond was set for Wright at $10,000.