Slain infant’s mom accepts plea bargain

The mother of 19-month-old Vincent Hill, who died March 27, pleaded no contest to one count of abuse of a child and one count of aggravated child endangerment.

Katheryn Nycole Dale, 20, entered her plea at what was cheduled to be a preliminary hearing at the Harvey County Courthouse in Newton.

Abuse of a child is a Level 5 personal felony and aggravated child endangerment is a Level 9 personal felony.

The aggravated child endangerment charge relates to Dale knowingly leaving Vincent Hill alone the morning of March 27 with her live-in boyfriend, Chad Carr, 26, formerly of Peabody, who is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the case.

Two counts of aggravated battery against Dale were dismissed by the state. One count was an alternative to the abuse of a child count. The other count was not supported by evidence presented at the preliminary hearing for Carr, prosecutor David Yoder said.

Dale’s sentencing has been set for 3 p.m. Sept 30. The plea bargain did not include sentence recommendations.

Dale is facing 31 to 38 months in prison for the abuse charge and five to eight months on the endangerment charge.

Chad Carr is scheduled for a pretrial hearing 1 p.m. Aug. 18.