CLEARFIELD – The second person charged in connection with the death of an infant girl was sentenced Tuesday.
In July of 2020, Dakota James Lynn Canfield, 24, and Alexa Lynn Kephart, 23, of Grampian, the child’s parents, were sleeping with the 39-day-old baby in a full-sized bed along with her 22-month-old brother.
She was lying against her mother on her left side, facing her mother and covered with a blanket, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
When they woke the next morning, she was unconscious and blue, according to police. She was later pronounced dead at Penn Highlands DuBois.
The couple was both subjected to a drug test that same day.
Kephart reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines, marijuana and ecstasy while Canfield was positive for these substances plus alcohol.
During the initial investigation, it was discovered that they had an open case with Clearfield County Children, Youth and Family Services.
Their records indicated that when Kephart gave birth, she tested positive for both methamphetamine and amphetamines.
In February, Kephart pleaded guilty to felony endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to serve six months to one year in jail with five years concurrent probation. She must complete drug counseling as well as a child nurturing program.
On Tuesday, Judge Paul Cherry sentenced Canfield to seven months to two years less one day in jail with five years probation for misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person, according to court personnel.
In two additional cases, Canfield pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of a controlled substance and in one other case with possession of a controlled substance for which he received concurrent sentences.