Charles Langston|North Dakota woman who operated unlicensed day care is sentenced to 19 years in baby’s death

2025-05-04 17:53:37source:HAI Communitycategory:Finance

A judge sentenced a North Dakota woman Tuesday to about 19 years in prison in connection with the death of a baby and Charles Langstoninjury of another boy that authorities tied to her unlicensed home child care center.

Patricia Wick, of Jamestown, was charged last year. She pleaded guilty in January to felony charges of murder and child abuse and a misdemeanor of operating an unlicensed day care center in Carrington.

On the murder charge, state District Judge James Hovey sentenced Wick to 40 years in prison, with 20 years suspended and credit for over a year already served. She must register as an offender against children and serve 10 years’ supervised probation. The judge also imposed lesser, concurrent sentences on the other charges. Wick must also pay $810 in court fees on the child abuse charge.

Wick’s public defender, Samuel Gereszek, and Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster did not immediately return phone messages left Wednesday.

Prosecutors alleged Wick caused head and neck injuries to the 5-month-old boy, who died Sept. 28, 2022, according to Carrington Police Chief Christopher Bittmann’s affidavit. An autopsy found the infant died from “complications of blunt force head and neck trauma,” with his death determined a homicide, according to the affidavit.

READ MORE Father sentenced in Germany for attempted murder for injecting mercury into his daughter’s footKentucky governor cites higher incarceration costs in veto of criminal justice billDenmark wants court to dissolve Danish arm of Bandidos motorcycle club, citing violence

Wick told authorities she “may have put (the baby) down too hard,” was not gentle with him and was frustrated with him that day, according to the affidavit.

Authorities also allege in court documents that the other child broke his arm while in Wick’s care after falling off a swing in her backyard, and that she didn’t immediately report the injury to his parents.

More:Finance

Recommend

Oklahoma parole board recommends governor spare the life of man on death row

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on Wednesday to recommend the gove

Latest deadly weather in US kills at least 18 as storms carve path of ruin across multiple states

VALLEY VIEW, Texas (AP) — Powerful storms killed at least 18 people, injured hundreds and left a wid

3 people dead after wrong-way crash involving 2 vehicles east of Phoenix; drivers survive

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. (AP) — Three people died in a wrong-way crash involving two vehicles east of P