North Phila. Daycare Operator Gets Time Served in Manslaughter Case, Now Heading to Prison For Fraud
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A former Philadelphia daycare operator who pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a seven-year-old boy in her care was sentenced today to about one to two years in prison.
But she had already served that time, so now she'll begin serving her five-year federal sentence resulting from related crimes.
Tianna Edwards, 32, pleaded guilty earlier in federal court to stealing over $1 million in government funds intended for the daycare.
And she pleaded guilty in state court to manslaughter in the 2012 death of Isear Jeffcoat.
Prosecutor Brendan O'Malley says the boy died in a dirty backyard swimming pool while in the care of two untrained, unlicensed workers. He concedes it was an accident, but says it was preventable.
"She was motivated by money and not motivated to provide a safe environment for these children," he tells KYW Newsradio, "and her negligence caused that accident."
Defense attorney Michael Giampietro noted that Edwards accepted responsibility for all her crimes, thereby sparing the victim's family the horror of a trial.
