Jules Cuneo, left, and the child she is accused of killing, Alize Vick
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A Colorado Springs jury found Jules Lynn Cuneo guilty of child abuse knowingly and recklessly causing death and reckless manslaughter.
"We are extremely happy with the guilty verdict. We would like to thank the jury. They had to consider a great deal of testimony and weigh very difficult expert testimony in this case. This is justice for the community," said District Attorney Dan Mays.
Child Abuse Knowingly and Recklessly Causing Death is a class-2 felony with a penalty range of 16 to 48 years in prison.
Reckless Manslaughter is a class-4 felony with a penalty range of four to 12 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. in division 5.
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Jurors convicted Jules Lynn Cuneo, 36, on Friday afternoon of child abuse resulting in death and reckless manslaughter.
These charges are instead of the first-degree murder conviction that prosecutors sought.
Watch FOX21 News at 6:30 and FOX21 News at 9 for full details.
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Original story
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- A Colorado Springs jury is deliberating the case involving a foster mother accused of killing a 2-year-old foster child by tossing her five feet across the living room.
Both sides delivered closing arguments Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of 36-year-old Jules Lynn Cuneo. She's accused of causing the head injuries that killed Alize Vick.
Jurors are expected to continue their deliberations Friday. Prosecutors say Cuneo tossed the girl at a coffee table in a fit of rage, pointing to inconsistent statements to investigators. Defense attorneys say investigators pressured an overly helpful Cuneo into making statements that aren't true.
The death prompted criticism of Colorado's foster care system.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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