NJ Mother Who Smothered 3-Month-Old Baby After Heavy Drinking Gets Prison Time

Authorities say a New Jersey woman who accidentally smothered her 3-month-old son after a night of heavy drinking was sentenced to prison time. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday that 39-year-old Melissa Johnson was sentenced to four years.

The Delran woman had pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in exchange for the sentence. The baby died of asphyxiation.

Emergency workers responded to Johnson’s home Feb. 18, 2015, for a report of an unresponsive child. Officials said a relative had found Johnson asleep on the couch with the infant partially wedged underneath her.

The prosecutor said Johnson had been drinking alcohol for several hours.

Author: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/03/21/new-jersey-mother-melissa-johnson-prison-smother-3-month-old-baby-heavy-drinking/