A Blackfeet Reservation woman who pleaded guilty to beating her 8-month-old foster daughter so badly that the girl suffered permanent injuries has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The Great Falls Tribune reports U.S. District Judge Brian Morris sentenced Samantha Headcarrier of Seville on Thursday. He also ordered her to complete a substance abuse treatment program.
Headcarrier pleaded guilty in June to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and felony child abuse. The baby was hospitalized in September 2013.
Public defender David Ness argued that Child and Family Services caseworkers were irresponsible in placing the baby and her two older siblings with Headcarrier, who was pregnant and addicted to prescription drugs. Headcarrier is a relative of the children.
Morris said he could not fathom the logic in placing the children with Headcarrier.