Zion father gets 22 years in baby's death
A Zion man has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison as part of a plea deal on charges he killed his 4-month-old daughter in 2008.
The News Sun reports 23-year-old Larnell Mace accepted the plea deal on Tuesday before Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips. Mace entered an Alford plea, which means he acknowledges the prosecution could likely prove the charge.
Mace faced nine counts of first-degree murder in the death of his daughter Jasmine Mace. His plea deal included a single count of first-degree murder and the remaining counts were dropped.
Prosecutors say Mace brought the baby to a Zion emergency room and she was pronounced dead about a half-hour later. Prosecutors say an autopsy showed the infant had internal injuries, including a lacerated liver.