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:2025-04-13 15:26:40
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! (153)
Related
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- The Handmaid’s Tale Star Yvonne Strahovski Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Husband Tim Lode
- With the World Focused on Reducing Methane Emissions, Even Texas Signals a Crackdown on ‘Flaring’
- Transcript: Rep. Michael McCaul on Face the Nation, July 16, 2023
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- The maker of Enfamil recalls 145,000 cans of infant formula over bacteria risks
- Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on being a dad, his career and his legacy: Don't want to have any regrets
- The Handmaid’s Tale Star Yvonne Strahovski Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Husband Tim Lode
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Senators are calling on the Justice Department to look into Ticketmaster's practices
Ranking
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Dylan Lyons, a 24-year-old TV journalist, was killed while reporting on a shooting
- Reimagining Coastal Cities as Sponges to Help Protect Them From the Ravages of Climate Change
- The maker of Enfamil recalls 145,000 cans of infant formula over bacteria risks
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Tomato shortages hit British stores. Is Brexit to blame?
- Suspect wanted for 4 murders in Georgia killed in standoff with police
- Delta Air Lines pilots approve contract to raise pay by more than 30%
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Tomato shortages hit British stores. Is Brexit to blame?
Inside Clean Energy: Not a Great Election Year for Renewable Energy, but There’s Reason for Optimism
Cartoonists say a rebuke of 'Dilbert' creator Scott Adams is long overdue
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Theme Park Packing Guide: 24 Essential Items You’ll Want to Bring to the Parks This Summer
The Handmaid’s Tale Star Yvonne Strahovski Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Husband Tim Lode
Titanic Sub Passenger, 19, Was Terrified to Go But Agreed for Father’s Day, Aunt Says