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Layton mom sentenced to prison for role in abuse, death of child during potty training

Posted at 4:00 PM, Apr 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-11 19:31:34-04

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah -- A Layton mother was sentenced to serve up to 15 years in prison for the role she played in the death of her

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jasmine Bridgeman, who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in the beating death of her 2-year-old son J.J. Sieger, enters Judge John R. Morris' courtroom for sentencing at the Davis Justice Center in Farmington, Monday, April 11, 2016.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jasmine Bridgeman, who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in the beating death of her 2-year-old son J.J. Sieger, enters Judge John R. Morris' courtroom for sentencing at the Davis Justice Center in Farmington, Monday, April 11, 2016.

2-year-old son last year.

Jasmine Ruth Bridgeman, 24, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, on March 14.

Last May, James Sieger was brought to a Davis County hospital severely battered and bruised. He died two days later. Bridgeman claimed it was a result of an accident but a closer examination showed the toddler had been severely beaten.

Prosecutors later claimed Bridgeman’s boyfriend, Joshua Scott Schoenenberger, 35, had beaten James out of frustration in his attempts to potty train the 2-year-old.

On Monday, Schoenenberger pleaded not guilty on charges of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony and child abuse, a second-degree felony. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for May 9.

During Bridgeman’s sentencing Monday, she read a prepared statement saying she was sorry for her actions and that she took full responsibility for what happened.

But the judge did not believe her and said her actions were as “abhorrent as they are heartbreaking --” and that Bridgeman ultimately chose her boyfriend over her child.

The judge sentenced her to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.

The family spoke after the court hearing. As far back as last June the toddler’s aunt said there would never truly be justice for James.