Kanawha County Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit sentenced Chellbie Elaine Hudson, 26, to 3 to 15 years in the penitentiary Friday morning after she pled guilty to one count of child neglect resulting in death in August.
As part of the plea deal, Kanawha Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Adam Petry agreed to drop one charge of child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury.
Hudson is scheduled to testify against ex-boyfriend William Ellis Bowen IV as part of the plea as well. Bowen was convicted of child neglect resulting in death and death of a child by parent, guardian or custodian following the death of Lillyann Aubriana Hudson.
“You left your daughter in that room with him (Bowen) all by herself when you herself were too afraid to go in there,” Tabit said on Friday.
“You knew how mad he got, you knew how he had treated her before and you didn’t like it, you disagreed with his parenting style, yet you left him there alone with her. Even though you were afraid to be with him.”
The 8-month old girl was found unresponsive and barely breathing by Hudson on June 23 of last year after being in a room with Bowen, according to Petry and Kanawha Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Miller. They argued that Bowen injured the girl and then the couple did not seek medical attention for her at their Buckeye Street residence in St. Albans.
According to Petry, when Hudson arrived home and noticed her daughter unresponsive she tried to prevent people in the home from calling 911 for Lillyann. The 8-month old was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center Women and Children’s Hospital where she died.
“I do wish I could reverse the hand of time and prevent all of this from happening. I miss my daughter on a daily basis and I love her dearly,” Hudson said in court on Friday.
Hudson will get credit for 470 days served. Bowen will be sentenced in this case on November 25, where he faces a minimum of 30 years in prison.
“To me what you did and what you didn’t do and how you failed your daughter is more heinous.,” Tabit said to Hudson. “You are the very person that should have unconditionally loved her and protected her from all that.”