Mother sentenced in death of 4-year-old

WARREN

Jennifer Light, 34, mother of 4-year-old Nicholas Partin, who died June 15 after her boyfriend, Scott Walker, punched him in the stomach, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for failing to protect the boy.

Light pleaded guilty last October in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to involuntary manslaughter and obstructing justice. She agreed to testify against Walker if his case went to trial.

But Walker accepted a plea agreement in August, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Diane Barber, assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, recommended the 5-year sentence, and Judge Andrew Logan accepted the recommendation.

Barber said in court that Light saw Walker hit her son June 14, 2013, saw him double over and say “ouch,” but failed to get medical attention for him. The blow caused slow internal bleeding that ultimately led to the boy’s death.

She also lied to police and medical personnel, saying she had taken him to the hospital the previous day after he had ingested carpet cleaner.