PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A woman was sentenced to serve three years in prison on Monday for the death of her 2-year-old granddaughter.
On Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, Karen Anita Jackson of pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect and involuntary manslaughter in Portsmouth.
According to the Portsmouth Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, evidence showed Jackson's granddaughter consumed fentanyl while under her care, leading to the child's death.
For the child abuse and neglect charge, Jackson was sentenced to five years with five years suspended.
For the involuntary manslaughter charge, Jackson was sentenced to 10 years with seven years suspended.
Jackson was also ordered to serve five years of supervised probation for each charge. That probation time will run concurrently, so instead of 10 years of probation, Jackson will only serve five years.
In order for her to fulfill the conditions required to maintain the suspended time on her sentences, the Commonwealth's Attorney said Jackson must maintain uniform good behavior, pay the court costs, remain drug-free, complete a substance abuse assessment and cannot have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 12.
