Judge Chris Ciaccio has handed down the maximum sentence for Erica Bell -- the woman he found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the beating death of 3-year-old Brook Stagles.
Bell did not speak at her sentencing hearing this morning. Her attorney asked for leniency and repeated his trial defense -- that Bell was abused by Brook's father and lied about injuring Brook to protect him.
Bell had admitted in a phone call that she punched the girl, and was found guilty of doing nothing to get her medical care.
Ciaccio said Bell's heroin addiction had nothing to do with her hiding Brook's injuries, and he called it a calculated act.