Amanda Stewart sentenced in son's death

Staff report

WARREN

Amanda R. Stewart, 25, of Garrettsville, has been sentenced to five years’ probation for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children stemming from the death of her 4-year-old son Aug. 4, 2010.

The sentence came Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Stewart pleaded guilty to the charges — one felony and one misdemeanor — in July and agreed to testify against her husband, Michael J. Stewart 29, of Windham, in the event that her husband took the case to trial.

Michael J. Stewart instead pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of negligent homicide and endangering children this month and will be sentenced later.

Prosecutors said the boy shot himself in the bedroom of his family’s home in the East River Gardens area of Newton Falls. Amanda Stewart was in the living room at the time, and Michael Stewart was at work.

The gun was unsecured in a dresser drawer in the bedroom, authorities said.

Meanwhile, another mother charged in the death of her child — Joy D. Hodge — was arraigned Wednesday in Judge McKay’s court.

Hodge, 28, of Transylvania Avenue Southeast, is being held in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

She pleaded innocent to charges of murder, felonious assault and child endangering Wednesday. If convicted, she could be sentenced to life in prison.

Police arrested Hodge after her 15-month-old daughter, A’Nana Brantley, was found dead at home.

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, Trumbull County coroner, ruled the girl died as a result of homicide caused by blunt traumatic injuries.