Mother held in disabled child's death

SALEM, Mass., July 6 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts mother pleaded not guilty Monday to charges in the death of her disabled 9-year-old son and was being held on $15,000 bail, officials said.

Kristen LaBrie, 37, of Salem, is in Framingham Prison. She was charged with intentionally failing to give her son Jeremy cancer treatments he needed, the Salem (Mass.) News reported.

An indictment handed up July 3 listed charges including attempted murder, assault and battery on a disabled person, wanton or recklessly permitting assault and battery on a child causing serious injury, and child endangerment.

Jeremy died in March. Although LaBrie was not charged with causing his death, she could face up to 40 years if found guilty, the newspaper said.

Prosecutor Kate MacDougall told Salem Superior Court Judge Richard Welch LaBrie failed to pick up prescriptions for Jeremy's medication. LaBrie's attorney, Kevin James, told the judge his client is a victim.