A judge on Friday sentenced a Peyton woman to six years in prison for her guilty plea to child abuse resulting in the death of her 3-year-old adopted son.
Fourth Judicial District Judge Scott Sells imposed the sentence on Michelle Dosdall for the March 29 death of her son Tristan, a former foster child whom she had adopted.
“I didn’t do anything that they said I did,” Dosdall told Sells in a courtroom packed with about 30 friends and relatives. “But the fact is I didn’t keep him safe.
“That’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life, and quite frankly, I’m not doing well with it,” she added.
On March 24, deputies and paramedics were called to the Dosdall home at 21150 Cheryl Grove where they found the boy unconscious and having difficulty breathing.
He was rushed to a hospital, where he died after being declared brain dead and taken off life-support.
An autopsy revealed the boy died from a blow to the head that was inconsistent with a household fall.
Dosdall told deputies that the boy slipped and fell after he got out of a bathtub.
She later admitted to being verbally “gruff” with the youngster while doing some exercises.
During the sentencing hearing, Deputy District Attorney Donna Billek said a sentence of probation or community corrections was not appropriate.
“She (Dosdall) doesn’t deny responsibility, but she doesn’t accept responsibility either,” Billek said, later adding: “She’s crying over what’s going to happen to her and not over Tristan.
“Yes sometimes accidents happen, but this wasn’t an accident.”
Several friends and neighbors told the judge that Dosdall was a caring parent whom they would trust with their own children.
Dosdall attorney Rick Levinson said he was disappointed with the sentence.
He called it “a tragedy on top of a tragedy.”
“We were hoping for a sentence that would have enabled Mrs. Dosdall to remain with her family. That obviously didn’t happen,” he added.
“But this is a strong family, and the family and faith that Michelle has will enable her to get through this.”
