In a tragic incident at John Peter Smith Hospital, Cheri Akil, 39, faced the consequences of her actions as she received a maximum two-year prison sentence for assaulting a pregnant hospital worker, resulting in the death of the unborn child.
The incident occurred on April 12, 2023, when Akil, already under arrest for driving under the influence and operating an illegal gambling operation, pleaded guilty to assaulting a public servant at the hospital.
Despite initial murder charges, a plea agreement revealed that prosecutors dropped the murder charge in favor of a two-year prison term.
Hospital staff, responding to Akil’s potentially suicidal state, restrained her in bed. During the restraint, she violently punched a pregnant hospital employee in the stomach, an act that proved fatal for the unborn child.
The victim, a 16-week pregnant hospital worker, remains undisclosed along with her current condition. Post-assault, she was promptly taken to the labor and delivery unit for thorough evaluation and treatment.
Jessica Virnoche, the executive director of communications for the JPS Health Network, emphasized the institution’s commitment to the safety of its team members. Virnoche stated, “At JPS Health Network, the safety and wellness of our team members is our top priority,” noting the seriousness with which the hospital addresses workplace violence.
Akil’s troubled history came to light during the investigation. In October 2018, she faced methamphetamine possession charges in Taylor County alongside 39 other individuals. After pleading guilty in June 2021, she received a deferred adjudication of three years of community supervision and 160 hours of community service.
However, her probation was revoked in October 2022 due to violations, leading to a seven-year probation period. Another motion to revoke probation was filed on April 17, 2023, coinciding with Akil being listed as under hold in the meth possession case.
Notably, a judge had previously determined Akil’s mental competence to stand trial during her 2021 guilty plea for meth possession. Her Facebook page, deactivated since then, identified her as a “stay-at-home parent.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, the JPS Health Network remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and well-being of its staff, while Cheri Akil faces the repercussions of her destructive actions in a court of law.
