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Pocono News Section
Mother Sentenced for Infant's Death
Mother Sentenced for Infant's Death - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 4:43PM EST
Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008 @ 04:43pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- A Hazleton woman who accidentally killed her baby is going to jail. Heather Breeland was sentenced Tuesday morning in Luzerne County Court.
She was sentenced to 9 to 20 months for causing her 3 week old baby's death. Eyewitness News reporter Mike Trim asked Breeland if she had anything to say to any mother that might make the same mistake. Breeland said, “Put your children first."
Breeland was arrested in December and charged with involuntarily manslaughter. In September 2006, police say she was drunk and high on coke, and rolled over on top of her baby Joseph, suffocating him to death. Breeland pled guilty, leading to today's sentence.
The Luzerne County District Attorney’s office says it's pleased with the sentence, and hopes Breeland's sentence can send a message. Assistant District Attorney Nancy Violi says, "Hopefully if there is anyone out there with small children or infants, thinking about acting in such a manner, they're going to stop. They're going to think twice and realize that they're going to be held accountable not only morally, but criminally as well for their actions."
Breeland has other children and the judge will allow her to take part in a work release program to provide for them. She also has to go through drug and alcohol counseling. | | |
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