Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CINCINNATI (AP) — A West Virginia woman accused of deliberately making her 9-year-old son sick by contaminating his IV at a Cincinnati hospital pleaded guilty Wednesday to endangering a child and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Candida Fluty had earlier pleaded not guilty to two counts each of felonious assault and child endangering and could have been sentenced to eight years if convicted of all charges. The other three counts were dismissed Wednesday as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
A court official said the judge has allowed the 35-year-old woman from Kermit a one-week delay before starting her sentence.
Fluty's attorney, Elizabeth Agar, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Prosecutors have indicated that Fluty might have been trying to make her son sick in a bid for attention. A prosecutor noted to the judge Wednesday that Fluty once told investigators she inserted fecal matter into the IV hoping to get doctors to change their treatment approach.
Fluty was indicted in January. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said Fluty's son was born with Hirschsprung, a congenital condition affecting the bowels. The condition led to numerous surgeries for the child, who also had to have a colostomy bag.
The child had received medical care in West Virginia before beginning treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 2011, according to prosecutors.
Authorities previously said the child was in the custody of West Virginia Children's Services but was residing with an aunt.
Prosecutors were satisfied with the plea and the sentence, said Julie Wilson, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor.
"Our concern was for her child, and we hope he is doing well," Wilson said.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
