A woman in Pennsylvania was ordered to report to Dauphin County prison next week after she was sentenced to two days behind bars for causing the suffocation death of her 2-month-old son.
According to WATE, the infant was found dead on Dec. 30, 2016 at a residence in Middletown.
Arissa K. Ward, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges including misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, as reported by WHTM.
At a sentencing hearing this week at Dauphin County Court, a judge ordered her to serve her sentence beginning on Monday. Following her release two days later, she will be fitted with an electronic monitor and continue serving three months of house arrest.
Ward was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and she will be placed on probation for five years.
During an investigation, Ward reportedly admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana before she fell asleep with her son on the couch.
The terms of her sentencing prohibit her from drinking alcohol and will be subject her to random drug testing.
According to the U.K. Independent, Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marisco acknowledged that there was no evidence the death was caused intentionally, though he said it was “caused by a reckless act” and said prosecuting the mother was the right decision.
Citing “the advice from hospitals and pediatricians,” Marisco cautioned that sleeping with infants, especially under the influence of any substance, “it’s much more likely something like this could happen.”
[Featured image: Arissa K. Ward/Dauphin County Prison]