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Woman sentenced for child neglect, child endangerment

A 30-year-old Minot woman will serve about two years in prison for leaving her young son with a stranger on Aug. 3, 2016.

Sheena Marie Lavallie pleaded guilty to child neglect and child endangerment, both Class C felonies, on Thursday in district court in Minot, court records show.

Judge Richard Hagar sentenced her to five years in prison for each charge, with a requirement that she serve two years, and three years of supervised probation. The sentences will be served concurrently along with sentences for Class C felony bail jumping and Class A misdemeanor lying to police. She will receive credit for 32 days already spent in jail. She must also pay $1,100 in court costs.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Lavallie had only known Justin Mack for a day and a half when she left her toddler with him. Mack in turn left the boy with Tabitha Jones, who told police that Mack didn’t know the boy’s name or his mother’s name. The boy didn’t have clothing, shoes or diapers. The responding officer recognized the little boy as Sheena Lavallie’s son and the boy was turned over to Ward County Social Services. The boy later tested positive for methamphetamine. Lavallie called Social Services on Aug. 4, 2016 and reported she had left her son with a friend and he had been kidnapped.

– Andrea Johnson

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