Couple Pleads Guilty In Toddler’s Death

PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) — A couple scheduled to stand trial in the 2007 fatal beating of the woman's 16-month-old daughter have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

A West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Jeremy Jordan and Shaelsie Jason in November 2010 on counts of principal to second-degree murder in the death of Ahlayjah Jason.

Investigators said the child suffered a fractured skull, broken leg and several broken ribs.

The Advocate reports Jordan entered a guilty plea to the charge of manslaughter on May 2 and was sentenced to 25 years. State District Judge James Best suspected 10 years of the sentence.

Jason pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison, but the court suspended the five years and placed her on probation.