Boyfriend pleads in death of woman’s infant

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man will spend 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison after pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the death of his girlfriend’s 9-week-old daughter.

Forty-two-year-old Harry Bowman originally planned to stand trial after the child’s mother, 27-year-old Heather Saffel, of North Franklin Township, pleaded guilty Tuesday. She faces to 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison when she’s sentenced next month.

Instead, Bowman changed his mind and took a plea deal on Wednesday.

Washington County prosecutors say Saffel didn’t harm the child, but also didn’t seek care for brain injuries the child suffered in Bowman’s care when Saffel went out to buy cigarettes and drugs on March 4, 2009.

The Observer-Reporter of Washington, Pa. says prosecutors didn’t detail how the injuries occurred, but say evidence showed the baby’s death was unintentional.