MISSOULA – The man who left his 5-month-old nephew partially buried in the woods last year near Lolo Hot Springs will spend at least 20 years in prison after being sentenced in a Missoula courtroom Tuesday afternoon.
Francis Crowley, 33, pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment and child criminal endangerment back in February. Authorities say the child was in Crowley’s care at the time.
Crowley and the child’s mother camped in the area and when others noticed the child was gone, they called the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
The baby was found in the woods and rushed to the hospital after an extensive search and amazingly survived the ordeal.
Crowley was emotional while addressing the judge and others involved in the case.
“This has completely changed my life. It doesn’t matter what the sentence is that I get — like, it’s done. I need help though. I’m going to go prison though for what? Who am I? I’m a rat,” he said.
“How do you think I feel…that you’re the one who found him when I was supposed to there for him? I have to tell my little nieces that I almost killed their little brother,” he continued.
Crowley was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each of two of the felony counts he was facing.
On a third felony count, Crowley was sentenced to 10 years, but that sentence was suspended.
— Information from Connor McCauley – MTN News
