Stepmom Gets 85 Years Prison Sentence For Kid Death

Tina Marie Alberson had a way to punish a 10-year-old kid — do not give him water. That was exactly what she did to his stepson Jonathan James who died in July 2011 for dehydration. On Tuesday, Alberson, the stepmon got 85 years prison sentence.

Alberson testified that she limited Jonathan’s water intake a few times as punishment for misbehaving, and that she saw him drinking water when he wasn’t in “time-out.” She said she saw no sign that he was in medical distress, ABC reports.

Jonathan’s twin brother, Joseph James, testified that his brother repeatedly asked for water and even pretended to use the bathroom just to drink from the faucet.

Spokeswoman for the Dallas County District Attorney’s office said that Alberson will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years.