| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
POMONA, Calif. (AP) A woman pleaded no contest Friday to a charge of felony child endangerment for allegedly putting her 2-year-old daughter inside a washer at a coin laundry facility, officials said.
Erma Osborne, 35, of Pomona, was immediately sentenced by Pomona Superior Court Commissioner Wade Olson to six months in a residential facility for developmentally disabled persons, said Deputy District Attorney Gail Ehrlich. She also was ordered to join parenting programs and placed on five years probation.
``This was felony conduct, and she pleaded to felony conduct,'' Ehrlich said. ``However, we recognize that her mental condition plays a part in deciding what's an appropriate punishment. She is developmentally disabled.''
The girl survived the May incident after police smashed the front window of the washer with a baton. She later received stitches on her arms and legs.
Surveillance videotape at Lucy's Laundromat showed Osborne and bystanders frantically trying to stop the washer and open the door. The washing machine apparently had some unexpired time and began operating when the child was placed inside and the door was closed, authorities said.
If convicted of the felony count of child endangerment, Osborne could have faced up to six years in state prison.