A Pennsylvania judge imposed lengthy prison terms on two parents convicted in connection with the drug-related death of their 8-year-old child.
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. — Two parents have been sentenced to decades in prison after prosecutors said their actions led to the death of an 8-year-old child who was exposed to and ingested fentanyl and cocaine.
Defendants Holly Back and Mousa Hawa were sentenced Thursday before Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Analisa Sondergaard, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
The pair were charged on June 4, 2024, in connection with the child’s death.
Decades-long prison sentences imposed
Judge Sondergaard sentenced Hawa to 22.5 to 40 years in state prison.
Back was sentenced to 20 to 40 years behind bars.
Prosecutors said the case centered on the death of an 8-year-old child who was exposed to and ingested fentanyl and cocaine while under the care of the defendants.
District attorney condemns parents’ actions
Chester County District Attorney de Barrena-Sarobe said the defendants repeatedly failed in their responsibilities as parents and placed their own interests ahead of their child’s safety.
“This was a case about parents who continually disregarded every basic parental responsibility and allowed their child to ingest fentanyl and cocaine,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.
“Because they chose to put themselves above their child, we prosecuted them to the fullest extent of the law. Judge Sondergaard’s sentence is justice for a child that deserved so much more.”
Child’s death led to criminal prosecution
Authorities have not released additional details in the sentencing announcement regarding the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The case was prosecuted by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office following the investigation into the fatal drug exposure.
The sentences conclude a case that prosecutors described as one of the most serious child endangerment and drug-related death prosecutions in the county.
Key Points
• Holly Back was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison and Mousa Hawa was sentenced to 22.5 to 40 years.
• The defendants were charged in connection with the death of an 8-year-old child who ingested fentanyl and cocaine.
• Chester County prosecutors said the parents repeatedly failed to protect the child from dangerous drug exposure.
Chester County District Attorney, Holly Back, Mousa Hawa, fentanyl exposure, cocaine ingestion, child death, Pennsylvania crime news, Judge Analisa Sondergaard, drug-related death, child endangerment.