A Texas woman known for endangering children has been sentenced to several decades in prison for the death of her infant daughter, officials reported this week.
On August 30, Danielle Ivy Dechert, 27, entered a guilty plea to one count of injury to a child and one count of recklessly causing their death in a courtroom presided over by Blanco County 33rd District Judge J. Allan Garrett.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office announced in a press release on Monday that she received a 40-year sentence in state prison.
Justice moved swiftly in this case in Texas following the tragic incident that claimed the life of a 5-month-old baby girl earlier in August.
Details remain limited regarding the incident that took place in Blanco County, a mostly rural area known for its low population density and the Blanco River in the Texas Hill Country. Johnson City, the county seat, is situated about 50 miles to the west of Austin.
On the relevant day, the defendant consumed an illegal substance while sharing a bed with her daughter, as stated in the court documents related to the case. During the night, a tragic incident occurred when a mother accidentally rolled over onto her child, resulting in the child’s death.
Co-sleeping refers to the practice of an adult and a young child sleeping in the same bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against this practice for infants because of the significant risk of death.
However, once Dechert understood the situation, she essentially chose not to take any corrective measures for a considerable period.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office reported that the mother did not seek any medical treatment or emergency assistance for more than eight hours while the child remained unresponsive after waking up.
The investigation was handled by the Texas Rangers and the prosecution was carried out by attorneys from Austin, likely due to the small size of the county’s law enforcement resources.
Dechert faced a stiffer penalty ultimately because of a previous conviction for evading arrest in a vehicle back in 2014, which is generally classified as a misdemeanor. This situation, not connected to the current case, was elevated to a felony because of an additional charge of child endangerment.
Currently, Dechert has not been moved to the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but it is expected that this will happen shortly.
A criminal case is currently underway against Dechert in Gillespie County, Texas.
She faces a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. A hearing to discuss the status of the case is scheduled for November 14.