Red Lake Woman Sentenced After Child Dies from Neglect
A Red Lake woman has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for felony child neglect following the death of a child in her care.
Sharon Rosebear, 64, was convicted earlier this year of intentionally depriving a child of essential food and medical care throughout 2022.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the victim died from a combination of severe malnutrition and untreated infection. Rosebear’s co-defendant, Julius Fineday, Sr., had previously pleaded guilty to felony child neglect in connection with the victim's death and received a five-year prison sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Prosecutors argued that Rosebear, although not the child’s legal guardian, acted as a caretaker for the victim in 2022 and was legally responsible for the child’s well-being. The court heard testimony that healthcare services and transportation to medical facilities were available at no cost within the Red Lake Nation. Additionally, Rosebear and those in her household received nutritional and financial assistance sufficient to meet basic needs. Despite this, Rosebear failed to seek medical attention for the victim and intentionally withheld food, allowing the child’s health to deteriorate.
Medical experts testified that the victim’s condition included a severe lice infestation, which Rosebear neglected to address. Instead of seeking help, Rosebear reportedly isolated the child. Evidence indicated that the victim weighed the same at the time of their death as they had three years earlier. Testimony also suggested that the victim’s infection might have been linked to scratches from untreated lice, and that prolonged starvation likely weakened the child’s immune system, contributing to the fatal outcome.
Rosebear’s sentencing came after a six-day trial, where a jury found her guilty of the charges on April 29, 2024. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, who presided over the case, described the situation as “easily preventable,” emphasizing that Rosebear’s inaction continued “day after day, week after week, month after month.”
The investigation into the child’s death was conducted by the FBI and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
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