Mother Sentenced for Drunken Child Abuse in SD

St. Francis, SD – In a heart-wrenching case of child neglect, 29-year-old Leonna Lynn Poorman, also known as Leona Lynn Poorman, has been sentenced to five months in custody following her conviction for Child Abuse.

The sentence, handed down on November 7, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, also includes two years of supervised release with an additional five months of home confinement and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

According to court documents, Poorman’s abuse stemmed from a February 8, 2015 incident where she was found drinking heavily in a party setting. With no sober adult present to care for them, her five children, all under seven years old, were left unsupervised.

The tragedy unfolded on the morning of February 8 when Poorman discovered her three-month-old child deceased in the bed they shared. Tests revealed a blood alcohol content of .107% at the time of death. The remaining children were found sleeping on the bed or the floor.

Investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson handling the prosecution. Poorman has been immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following her sentencing.

This harrowing incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with alcohol abuse and the tragic consequences when children are left in harm’s way.