By AP
Carlyle, IL – A Clinton County judge has sentenced a Carlyle woman to 16 years in prison for trying to cover up the fatal beating her boyfriend inflicted on her 3-year-old son.
Circuit Court Judge Dennis Middendorff imposed the sentence Tuesday on 29-year-old Valerie Schoolfield, who pleaded guilty in November to obstructing justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and endangering the life of a child. As part of the plea deal, charges of first-degree murder against her were dismissed.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports that young Joseph Schoolfield died in January 2009. Authorities believe his mother was at work when her 24-year-old boyfriend, Scott Endicott, fatally beat Joseph.
Endicott pleaded guilty to first-degree murder midway through his trial in July and later received a sentence of 60 years in prison.
