A Denver day care operator facing felony charges after the 17-month-old son of a Denver police officer died in her care could face probation and 90 days in county jail as part of an agreement with prosecutors in the case.
Prosecutors allege Dammi Seneviratne left 17-month-old Jeremiah Saunders unattended Nov. 4 and the boy strangled to death on a toy made of beads and wire.
Seneviratne said at the time that she left the boy sleeping and didn’t know what had happened to him.
She waived her right to a preliminary hearing this morning after prosecutors agreed to drop the child abuse charge from a Class 2 felony to Class 3 felony.
They’ve agreed to seek the short jail sentence and probation, but the final decision is up to the judge.
Class 3 felonies, in this case negligent child abuse resulting in death, can bring between 4 and 12 years in prison.
Seneviratne has operated the day care since 2002. She was cited by the Colorado Department of Human Services in 2008 for having too many people in a van without proper restraints.
She remains free on bond.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
