COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Update Monday, April 19

A judge on Monday sentenced Jules Lynn Cuneo to 32 years behind bars for the death of her two-year-old foster child Alize Vick.

A jury convicted Cuneo of Child Abuse Knowingly and Recklessly Causing Death and Reckless Manslaughter. Cuneo was sentenced to 32 years for Child Abuse and 16 years for Reckless Manslaughter, but will serve both sentences at the same time.

Cuneo's family addressed the judge in an attempt to appeal, saying the prosecution and media have painted an incorrect picture of Cuneo as a monster. The prosecution told FOX21 News the evidence speaks for itself.

Before the judge read Cuneo's sentence the prosecution played a nine-minute clip taken from a two-hour recording made by Cuneo's neighbor, using a baby monitor.

The tape "describes torture. It describes Miss Cuneo sitting on Alize telling her to use her words. One can tell Alize is in distress there's no question about that and it goes on and on," explained the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Deborah Pearson.

The recording was not allowed to be presented to the jury during the trial based on case law, but the judge did allow it to be played in Monday's sentencing.

When asked whether the recordings may have influenced the judge before the sentencing Pearson had this to say: "Judge Schwartz reviewed the recording more than a year ago. He had to make some decisions about whether that would be admissible for trial. So what I can tell you is I know it's been on his mind throughout the course of this case."

As the recording played in the courtroom Cuneo periodically hung her head low and at times looked squirmish in her seat.

Alize's family sat crying; at one point her grandmother left the room in tears.

Neither family spoke to the media after.

"I was happy it wasn't the max. I'd have liked to see it a little less, but I can certainly understand why it wasn't," said defense attorney Dennis Hartley.

"We believe the sentence is fair and right. Ms. Cuneo will now be taken away from the community where she will not have the chance to hurt another child," said Pearson.

The trial lasted for about two weeks. The jury deliberated for about 6 1/2 half hours before reaching a decision.

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Update Monday, April 12

The Jules Lynn Cuneo sentencing in Division 5 has been re-set for Monday, April 19, at 2:30 p.m. over the prosecution's objection.

The defense attorney in the case is in trial in another division and the April 12 sentencing cannot take place.

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Original story

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- A former foster mother faces up to 60 years in prison in the death of a 2-year-old girl in her care.

Jules Lynn Cuneo was convicted Feb. 19 of child abuse and reckless manslaughter in the 2007 death of Alize Vick. Cuneo's sentencing hearing is scheduled Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors say Cuneo tossed Alize five feet across a living room, causing a fatal injury to the girl when she hit her head on a coffee table. Prosecutors charged her with first-degree murder but a jury convicted her of the lesser charges.

El Paso County last month agreed to pay $300,000 to Alize's mother to settle a lawsuit.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)