Mother sentenced for felony child neglect

MADISON, Ind., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An Indiana woman whose boyfriend allegedly used pliers to pull two teeth from her 2-year-old son's mouth has been sentenced to prison for child neglect.

Jessica L. Carder, 22, of Hanover will spend 13 years and 11 months in prison for felony neglect of a dependent, the Madison Courier reported Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Carder failed to seek medical attention for her child after the teeth were pulled and attempted to cover up the crime to protect her boyfriend, both aggravating circumstances considered by the sentencing judge.

"I think if a parent saw their child in that situation, they would run, not walk, to seek medical attention," Superior Court Judge Alison Frazier said before announcing the sentence.

Carder and her boyfriend Andrew Richards, 28, were arrested at Carder's Hanover home Dec. 23.

An investigation had begun after the grandparents of Calder's son found he had two teeth missing and had several bruises and scrapes on his body.

Richards is scheduled to be tried at the end of September.