Brooklyn Center woman sentenced to prison for infant manslaughter charge
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UPDATE 12:45 p.m. – Court records show a Brooklyn Center woman will serve time in prison after pleading guilty to killing her infant son.
Wednesday morning, a judge sentenced 31-year-old Arneshia Cunigan to serve 41 months (3.4 years) in the Shakopee prison. There was no credit for time served.
The sentence was a condition of a plea deal Cunigan took earlier this year, when she entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree manslaughter.
In addition, Cunigan had a separate hearing scheduled for charges of felony malicious punishment of a child and third-degree assault, which were filed in October 2020. Those charges were dismissed during Wednesday’s hearing.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS was at the courthouse Wednesday, and will have more on the sentencing this evening.
INITIAL REPORT 8:55 a.m. – A Brooklyn Center woman is expected to appear for two separate cases in Hennepin County court Wednesday – the first for a sentencing in the killing of her infant son, and the second for a hearing on prior alleged child abuse charges.
Arneshia Cunigan (Hennepin County Jail)
The sentencing is expected to begin at 8:45 a.m. for 31-year-old Arneshia Cunigan, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in June for the April 2021 death of her 10-month-old son.
Cunigan faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both for the manslaughter conviction.
Court records indicate the child abuse hearing will happen within the same court appearance under Fourth District Judge Paul Scoggin, although the sentencing and hearing have separate case numbers within the state’s court system.
As previously reported, Cunigan was charged with felony malicious punishment of a child and third-degree assault in October 2020.
Her infant son – who suffered the injuries being investigated in the child abuse case – and his twin sister were taken to foster care in October 2020. When the health and welfare hold expired on Feb. 18, 2021, the twins were returned to Cunigan, court records say.
A little over eight weeks later, the boy died under Cunigan’s care.
Court records say authorities responding to the infant’s death were not initially aware of the earlier child abuse case, which might explain the separate case filings.
A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS crew is at the Hennepin County courthouse Wednesday to provide updates as the cases proceed. Check back for updates.