The Vermont woman found guilty of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and child cruelty resulting in death in the 2019 death of an infant in her care received her sentence on Monday after an emotional morning in court.A judge sentenced former day care provider Stacey Vaillancourt to serve three to 10 years in prison in a concurrent sentence on both counts.>>>Top video: See previous coverageThe decision takes into consideration that the trial took five years to reach its conclusion, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A jury previously found Vaillancourt guilty of giving 6-month-old Harper Rose Briar liquid diphenhydramine in an effort to get her to sleep.Briar was found unresponsive at Vaillancourt’s home day care and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died. On Tuesday, members of Harper Rose Briar’s family read victim statements to the court. “I truly hope my words here today are heard and that finally Ms. Vaillancourt is held accountable for what she has done and what she has taken, and that my daughter, Harper Rose Briar, can finally rest in peace,” said Marissa Briar, Harper’s mother.Vaillancourt’s attorney, Robert McClallen, asked the judge to delay her sentencing until after a surgery scheduled for April 17.”The requested sentence combines punishment together with recognition that Stacy has no criminal history, has been a productive member of society for her entire life, and is abided by all conditions of release of court for a period of five years,” said McClallen.However, the judge, Hon. Cortland Corsones, denied the motion after hearing testimony from a parole officer with the Department of Corrections, confirming that the departments is capable of and legally obligated to provide necessary medical care and is equipped to do so for her scheduled appointments. Rutland County State’s Attorney, Ian Sullivan, prosecuted the case and said the sentence brings a sense of justice to the family but can’t bring back Harper.”Real justice would have been Harper in school playing with her friends, having birthday parties with her family,” said Sullivan. “Nothing we could do in the criminal justice system could achieve that real and true justice for her and for her family — but we can and did secure convictions and argue for what we believe was a just an appropriate sentence.”Vaillancourt is currently in the care of the DOC.Members of Vaillancourt’s family who attended the sentencing declined to speak with NBC5.
The Vermont woman found guilty of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and child cruelty resulting in death in the 2019 death of an infant in her care received her sentence on Monday after an emotional morning in court.
A judge sentenced former day care provider Stacey Vaillancourt to serve three to 10 years in prison in a concurrent sentence on both counts.
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>>>Top video: See previous coverage
The decision takes into consideration that the trial took five years to reach its conclusion, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A jury previously found Vaillancourt guilty of giving 6-month-old Harper Rose Briar liquid diphenhydramine in an effort to get her to sleep.
Briar was found unresponsive at Vaillancourt’s home day care and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
On Tuesday, members of Harper Rose Briar’s family read victim statements to the court.
“I truly hope my words here today are heard and that finally Ms. Vaillancourt is held accountable for what she has done and what she has taken, and that my daughter, Harper Rose Briar, can finally rest in peace,” said Marissa Briar, Harper’s mother.
Vaillancourt’s attorney, Robert McClallen, asked the judge to delay her sentencing until after a surgery scheduled for April 17.
“The requested sentence combines punishment together with recognition that Stacy has no criminal history, has been a productive member of society for her entire life, and is abided by all conditions of release of court for a period of five years,” said McClallen.
However, the judge, Hon. Cortland Corsones, denied the motion after hearing testimony from a parole officer with the Department of Corrections, confirming that the departments is capable of and legally obligated to provide necessary medical care and is equipped to do so for her scheduled appointments.
Rutland County State’s Attorney, Ian Sullivan, prosecuted the case and said the sentence brings a sense of justice to the family but can’t bring back Harper.
“Real justice would have been Harper in school playing with her friends, having birthday parties with her family,” said Sullivan. “Nothing we could do in the criminal justice system could achieve that real and true justice for her and for her family — but we can and did secure convictions and argue for what we believe was a just an appropriate sentence.”
Vaillancourt is currently in the care of the DOC.
Members of Vaillancourt’s family who attended the sentencing declined to speak with NBC5.
