FARMINGTON — Saying she chose her boyfriend over her son, a judge sentenced a Layton mother to prison for lying to police about how the 2-year-old sustained the violent injuries that took his life.

"Your actions as described in the report were as abhorrent as they were heartbreaking," 2nd District Judge John Morris said as he handed down his decision Monday. "Sadly what I must conclude is that you chose your boyfriend over your child's welfare."

Jasmine Bridgeman, who turned 24 last week, spoke quickly and quietly as she read a brief statement apologizing for the false statements she made to medical personnel and police after bringing her critically injured son, James "JJ" Sieger, to Davis Hospital and Medical Center last May.

"I continue to pray that no mother will have to feel the pain I feel on a daily basis," Bridgeman said. "May my son rest in peace and may God save my soul."

Bridgeman was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison. She pleaded guilty last month to obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

JJ was taken off life support two days after being taken to the hospital, his body succumbing to extensive injuries including tearing in his colon, damage in his abdomen, deep bruising, head trauma and other injuries, allegedly dealt out at the hands of her boyfriend, 35-year-old Joshua Schoenenberger.

After a series of changing narratives by himself and Bridgeman, Schoenenberger told police he had lashed out at the boy as he struggled with potty training. Schoenenberger, ordered to stand trial for aggravated murder, a first-degree felony and a capital offense, also appeared in court briefly Monday for arraignment. He pled not guilty.

Related:

Mom of toddler killed over potty training pleads guilty to obstructing justice

A Layton woman has pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in the death of her 2-year-old son, after police say the boy succumbed to violent abuse at the hands of his mother's boyfriend.

Prosecutor Susan Hunt questioned Monday whether Bridgeman has ever told the truth about where she was and what she knew of the attack on her son.

"She still, apparently, can't come forward with the information of what actually happened on that day," Hunt said.

Showing no emotion, Bridgeman said she faces daily guilt and shame, and she wants to accept responsibility for her actions in the wake of her son's death.

Morris told Bridgeman that part of accepting responsibility is complete honesty, noting "it's not entirely clear to me that you have taken that step yet."

Speaking for JJ's family on his father's side, the boy's aunt, Nicole Sieger, wept as she described the pain of telling her own children they won't see their cousin again. Sieger said her family had begged to raise JJ, leaving Bridgeman to "be young and go party," but instead she hid the boy from them.

"JJ had a family who wanted him, his dad was searching for him. She concealed him, she concealed him from us and from his dad, she concealed him so this could happen," Sieger said.

Morris said his sentencing decision did not weigh on the allegations that Bridgeman had tried to keep JJ from his father.

Police said Bridgeman lied several times about what had happened at the Layton home before telling detectives that Schoenenberger had become upset with JJ.

The couple told doctors that they found JJ face down in the bathtub after he was left unattended, but doctors found no evidence of fluid in the boy's lungs, charging documents state.

Bridgeman told police that, as they drove to the hospital, her boyfriend asked her to lie to investigators about what happened, a police report states.

According to police, Schoenenberger became frustrated with JJ, who was struggling with potty training and would soil his diaper before spreading the mess around the house, 224 E. 1450 North. After JJ soiled his diaper last May, Schoenenberger took the boy to shower off, then became angry and smeared feces on his face before forcefully squeezing his stomach, investigators say.

Schoenenberger told a detective he then dropped JJ onto the bathroom floor and deliberately stepped on him, according to the officer's testimony in a preliminary hearing earlier this year.

Schoenenberger will appear in court again May 9.

Related topics