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Iowa woman avoids life sentence in toddler’s death

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October 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against an Iowa woman who admitted to causing the head injuries that killed a three-year-girl at her in-home day care. Rochelle Sapp of Orange City pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges under a plea agreement in the death of Autumn Elgersma. Sapp admitted that she dropped the toddler to the ground and also admitted to multiple acts of child endangerment in prior months.

Prosecutors dropped a first-degree murder charge, which would’ve been a life sentence for Sapp. Second-degree murder would’ve required 35 years. Judge Edward Jacobson sentenced Sapp to an indeterminate sentence of up to 100 years.

Drake University law professor Bob Rigg says the 34-year-old Sapp will serve “significant time” — likely around 15 to 20 years.