Southern Minnesota Mother Sentenced for Death of Her Infant Son

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southern Minnesota woman was sentenced for the death of her son in Mower County Court Wednesday morning. 

Get our free mobile app

26-year-old Jocelyn Pater of Glenville was charged last year with second-degree manslaughter, felony child endangerment, and two drug charges in connection with the suffocation death of the two-month-old child in December of 2021. 

It was alleged she was under the influence of methamphetamine when she fell asleep on top of the baby on a couch inside an Austin home on December 13th.

Pater admitted to a second-degree manslaughter charge in exchange for the dismissal of felony child endangerment and drug charges in a plea agreement that was reached this past July. 

The agreement called for no additional time behind bars. A Mower County judge abided by the agreement and sentenced Pater to five years probation on Wednesday. 

Pater would be ordered to serve the remainder of her sentence at the state prison in Shakopee if she violates the terms of her probation. Pater was also given credit for 69 days served in the Mower County Jail and ordered to serve 200 hours of community service.