A Layton mother has been sentenced from one to 15 years in prison for the role that she played in the death of her two-year-old son last year. The death is known as the potty training case wherein the child was killed by the mother's boyfriend while being trained for such.
In a report by Fox 13, the mother, identified as Jasmine Ruth Bridgeman who just turned 24, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice on March 14. Her son, James Sieger, was brought to a Davis County hospital last year severely battered and bruised. He died two days later after being taken off of life support. Bridgeman told officials that the child had an accident but an examination revealed that the toddler was badly beaten.
It has been found out that the boy succumbed to extensive injuries such as a tear in his colon, damage in his abdomen, deep bruising, head trauma, and others.
Prosecutors are saying that Bridgeman's boyfriend, Joshua Scott Schoenenberger, 35, beat Sieger out of frustration in his attempts to potty train the toddler. Just this Monday, Schoenenberger pleaded not guilty on charges of aggravated murder and child abuse, both of which are felonies. A pretrial conference was scheduled this May 9.
In a statement by Bridgeman on Monday, she said that she was sorry for her actions and that she takes full responsibility of her child's death. She also said that she hopes no mother will experience the pain she goes through every day, Good 4 Utah reported.
However, the judge handling the case said she do not believe the mother, noting that her actions were "as abhorrent as they are heartbreaking." The judge added that Bridgeman ultimately chose her boyfriend over her child, KSL reported.
One of the aunts of the boy, who is from the child's father's side, wept during the sentencing of Bridgeman. She said they begged to raise Sieger and take him from his mother but she hid the toddler from them. The aunt added that the boy had a family who wanted him and that his father was searching for him but Bridgeman concealed the child.
