Mother gets half-year for locking 3 kids in car’s trunk

Published: Thursday, January 17, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Thomas Wynne on Wednesday called what Anna Boyle did in September the "epitome of bad parenting" and then sentenced her to six months in the county jail.

Before he handed down the sentence, Wynne read to Boyle the conditions of the court order that prohibits her from seeing or contacting her children. The order is valid until 2017.

After Boyle was arrested, her children, ages 5, 7 and 8, were removed and placed with relatives.

Boyle, 28, could earn the chance to see her children sooner if she meets the requirements established by the dependency court. She also could eventually regain custody of her children. Boyle likely will need to undergo drug treatment, parenting classes and mental health counseling.

Boyle pleaded guilty last month to drug possession and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the Sept. 23 traffic stop. She faced a maximum of eight months in jail.

Prosecutors agreed to recommend a mid-range sentence because of Boyle's lack of criminal history and her willingness to plead guilty.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Jarett Goodkin said that the standard range sentence didn't necessarily reflect the seriousness of the crime.

"Ms. Boyle placed her children's lives in danger," Goodkin said.

Boyle was driving 17 mph over the speed limit on I-405 as her three children were wedged in the trunk with the family dog, court papers said. A guitar and snowboard were in the back seat.

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Mother gets half-year for locking 3 kids in car’s trunk