Woman sentenced in child endangering

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A city woman has been placed on 18 months’ probation after she pleaded guilty to child endangering after the Dec. 31, 2013, beating of her 9-year-old son.

Amber Murphy, 29, of Weston Avenue or Wychwood Lane, drew the sentence Monday from Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Dawn Cantalamessa, an assistant county prosecutor, said Murphy failed to seek immediate medical attention for her son.

The beating was not reported to authorities until two days after it occurred.

Murphy’s husband, Tommy Murphy, 37, initially was charged with inflicting the beating, but the prosecution dropped a felonious assault charge against him in his plea agreement, in which he pleaded guilty to child endangering.

Judge Durkin will sentence Tommy Murphy at 10 a.m. Feb. 6.

A tearful Amber Murphy apologized to the judge.

Noting that Amber Murphy has no prior criminal record, Judge Durkin followed Cantalamessa’s recommendation to put her on probation.

However, the judge warned Amber Murphy that she’ll face 18 months in prison if she violates any condition of her probation.

The boy is now in the custody of another family member.