Skylar Lorraine Picconatto, 21, Berthold was sentenced to a year in jail and three years of supervised probation for failing to protect a young girl from being sexually abused by Picconatto’s boyfriend.

Picconatto had pleaded guilty in April to Class C felony deprivation of a minor by encouraging the child to engage in sexual conduct. Her former boyfriend, Coby John Edwards, 26, Berthold, is charged with a Class AA felony for allegedly sexually abusing the little girl between 2016 and 2018. He is scheduled to go to trial in court in Minot on July 16 before Judge Doug Mattson.

With credit for the time she has already served, plus time off earned for good behavior, Picconatto will be released from the Ward County Jail within five days.

If she successfully completes probation, the charge will be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor.

Mattson also ordered Picconatto to continue with counseling and to obtain a sex offender evaluation and follow through with any recommended treatment.

Picconatto will not be required to register as a sex offender under the crime she pleaded guilty to. Mattson ordered Picconatto to have no contact with the victim in the case. Picconatto does have two young children of her own whom she has been allowed visits with. One of the children is living with relatives out of state and the other child is in North Dakota, according to statements made in court on Friday. Picconatto hopes to work with Social Services and eventually regain custody of her own children.

The victim’s mother is in agreement with the sentence given to Picconatto, according to statements made in court. Picconatto’s attorney, Kyle Craig, said in court on Friday that Picconatto started dating Edwards when she was 16 and that Edwards abused her and strangled her on one occasion. Craig said it took some time for Picconatto to acknowledge that she had been abused and that Edwards has been a toxic influence on her.

Picconatto had originally been charged with Class A felony gross sexual imposition and accused of sexually abusing the young girl.