Montana man gets 80 years in prison for causing girl's death

Associated Press

GREAT FALLS, Mont. - A Great Falls man who pleaded guilty to shaking his girlfriend's 17-month-old daughter, causing fatal brain injuries, has been sentenced to 80 years in prison.

District Judge Greg Pinski sentenced Charles Cadwell II on Wednesday for the July 2011 death of Keira Hulbert, the Great Falls Tribune reported.

Pinski suspended 20 years of the sentence, noting that Cadwell spared the girl's family an emotionally traumatic trial, had no criminal record and that his apology appeared genuine.

"Mr. Cadwell has admitted to the court that in a moment of frustration he shook Keira and admits the shaking caused death," Pinski said.

Cadwell has said he shook Keira because she wouldn't stop crying. He read from a letter to Keira's mother, Kayla Hulbert.

"I would like to start by saying I'm sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. I wish I could take it back, trade places with her. No matter what I say or do I can't, so I made a pact with myself to live the rest of my life in dedication to Keira," he said.

When Kayla Hulbert took the stand, she said she would talk for 20 minutes, representing the 20 minutes she left her daughter with Cadwell while she ran an errand.

She said she was on her way home when she got a call from Hulbert telling her something was wrong.