By Associated Press - Monday, November 23, 2015

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to up to five years in prison for the death of her of 2½-month-old son, who police say suffocated in a recliner while his mother slept after drinking beer.

A Luzerne County judge imposed Tracey Gonda’s sentence of 15 months to five years in prison on Monday. Forty-two-year-old Gonda, of Nanticoke, pleaded guilty in September to endangering the welfare of a child.

Gonda apologized in court, saying she was “especially so sorry” to her son.



Earlier this month, a jury convicted the child’s father, 50-year-old Corey Eckrote, with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the boy’s 2014 death.

Investigators say Eckrote had custody of the child and a court order barred Gonda from being left alone with him because of addiction issues. They say Eckrote left the baby with her anyway.

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