Chinook woman pleads guilty in infant drowning

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: May 13, 2009 at 8:47 AM MST

Story Updated: May 13, 2009 at 8:47 AM MST

GREAT FALLS - A Chinook daycare provider has pleaded guilty to negligent endangerment for her role in the August 2006 drowning of a 6-month-old girl in her care.

District Judge John C. McKeon gave Sharon Miller a 1-year suspended sentence and fined her $1,000. As part of the plea agreement, Miller promised never to care for children except for family members.

Blaine County Attorney Donald Ranstrom filed a negligent homicide charge and an alternative charge of negligent endangerment against Miller on Friday, about a month after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on a negligent homicide charge.

Investigators say Miller left 6-month-old Jenna Unruh alone in a bath seat in a sink for several minutes while she changed another infant's diaper in another room. When Miller returned, Jenna's head was under water.

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