Pine Ridge Mother Sentenced to Prison for Child Abuse

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Pine Ridge woman has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for involving her toddler son in a drunken fight with her boyfriend.

The Rapid City Journal reports that 24-year-old Emmy Rouillard pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and neglect in the case in which her boyfriend was sentenced on similar charges in March to four years in prison.

Authorities said Robert Red Shirt kicked the face of Rouillard's 20-month-old child during the argument in March 2015. They also said Rouillard started the chain of events by slapping Red Shirt while holding her son, and that she used the child as a human shield.

The boy has since died. His birth father has been charged with child abuse and murder.

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