Sentenced After Being Convicted of Murder For 2011 Fire That Killed 4
Jessica Tata has been sentenced to 80 years in prison after being convicted of murder for a 2011 fire at her home day care killed four children.
Tata with her attorney Mike DeGuerin
Jurors came to the decision on the second day of deliberations.
Jurors deliberated for 5½ hours Monday in the punishment phase of the trial of Jessica Tata. They resumed deliberations Tuesday morning and came to a decision shortly before 11a.m..
Tata was facing up to life in prison. She was convicted last week of felony murder in the death of 16-month-old Elias Castillo, whom she left at home with six other children while she went shopping. Fire officials determined a pan of oil on a stove top burner fueled the blaze.
Prosecutors asked jurors to sentence Tata to life in prison.
Defense attorney, Mike DeGuerin said "Tata is a good person who made a terrible mistake." Prosecutors call her "irresponsible."
