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Woman Sentenced For Burning 2-Year-Old Son With Cigarettes

EAST PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A woman has been sentenced for burning her 2-year-old son with cigarettes while her boyfriend watched and laughed.

Judge David Cashman told Anna Russell, 19, her case still haunts him before sentencing her to two years in jail and five years probation. She has already spent 13 months in jail.

"That means Judge Cashman will supervise probation, as a condition of her release she has to participate in what we call justice related services, its a mental health treatment," defense attorney Veronica Brestensky said.

In a tearful statement, Russell said she wasn't ready to be a parent at the time and she realizes that a mother must always protect  her children.

Her boyfriend, Enrique Soto, 26, actually received more jail time: three to six years in prison and five years probation after his release.

Police say the incident, at times described  happened back on Aug. 1 at Anna Russell's apartment in the 300 block of Dorothy Street in East Pittsburgh.

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The victim's sister told a case worker: "My mom burned my brother with cigarettes." She also said her mother's boyfriend, Soto, "laughed the whole time and said 'he is still alive.'"

On Aug. 8, the 2-year-old boy's grandmother took him to Children's Hospital because she was concerned about scabs from wounds all over his body.

The doctor at Children's Hospital found at least 15 discrete wounds across the toddler's face, chest, neck, back, left arm, left hand and on both legs.

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