Current:Home > NewsMaine mom who pleaded guilty to her child’s overdose death begins 4-year sentence -TradeWise
Maine mom who pleaded guilty to her child’s overdose death begins 4-year sentence
View
Date:2025-04-16 08:08:34
HOULTON, Maine (AP) — A Maine woman who pleaded guilty in the overdose death of her 1-year-old son has begun serving a prison sentence for manslaughter.
Mariah Dobbins, 29, of Easton, was ordered last month to serve four years under a plea agreement following the March 19, 2022, death of her son, Jaden Raymond. Maine State Police released few details at the time, but an autopsy later revealed the boy died from a fentanyl overdose.
Dobbins told police she and her two sons had fallen asleep watching TV and that Jayden was unresponsive when she woke up. Law enforcement officials accused Dobbins of being inattentive to the point of being criminally negligent.
Defense attorney Steve Smith said prosecutors wanted a harsh penalty following a number of high-profile deaths of children. Dobbins was sentenced July 20 to 12 years in prison, but with most of the sentence suspended.
“The state wanted to make an example of Ms. Dobbins because there seems to be a wave of these cases,” Smith said Tuesday.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Service came under criticism following a spate of children’s deaths from abuse or neglect. There also have been several cases of babies and children overdosing, typically when they ingested drugs that were left in the open, amid an epidemic of opioid abuse in the state.
veryGood! (71328)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Tina Turner's Daughter-in-Law Hopes to Conceive Baby With Late Husband Ronnie's Sperm
- China replaces Qin Gang as foreign minister after a month of unexplained absence and rumors
- On the Coast of Greenland, Early Arctic Spring Has Been Replaced by Seasonal Extremes, New Research Shows
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Gabe Lee hopes to 'bridge gaps' between divided Americans with new album
- Food truck owner gets 2 years in prison for $1.5M pandemic relief loan fraud
- Video shows Colorado trooper jump off bridge to avoid being struck by speeding vehicle
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Drake revealed as new owner of Tupac's crown ring, which he purchased for over $1 million at auction
Ranking
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma keep late teammate in hearts, mental health in public’s minds
- Teen Mom's Tyler Baltierra Slams Critic for Body-Shaming Catelynn Lowell
- 4 killed, 2 hurt in separate aircraft accidents near Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Why Matt Damon Joked Kissing Costar Scarlett Johansson Was Hell
- Escaped New Hampshire inmate shot and killed by police officer in Miami store
- Toll cheats cost New Jersey $117M last year and experts say the bill keeps growing
Recommendation
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
S Club 7 Recalls the Awful Moment They Learned of Paul Cattermole's Death
Remains of climber who went missing in 1986 recovered on a glacier in the Swiss Alps
TikTokers are zapping their skin with red light; dermatologists say they’re onto something
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Rauw Alejandro Denies Erroneous Cheating Rumors After Rosalía Breakup
Meet the contenders: American athletes to watch ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics
'Gimme a break!' Biden blasts insurance hassles for mental health treatment