Melanie Smith Sentencing Set For Today

A Muskogee County mom could head to prison for the rest of her life for neglecting her son.<br/><br/>Sentencing is scheduled for Monday for Melanie Smith, she is the mother who stood trial for abusing

Sunday, December 10th 2006, 9:13 pm

By: News On 6

A Muskogee County mom could head to prison for the rest of her life for neglecting her son.

Sentencing is scheduled for Monday for Melanie Smith, she is the mother who stood trial for abusing her 4-year-old son. The little boy was beaten and starved, he struggled to stand, and used a cane to prop himself up.

The boy and his father testified against Smith, but the jury couldn't convict on charges of abuse, saying other family members were responsible.

Smith was found guilty of neglect and child endangerment for putting her son at risk. Those crimes come with a possible life sentence. But the jury recommended Smith spend the next 16 years in prison.