Beech Tree News Network

A 12-person jury on Friday returned guilty verdicts for first-degree manslaughter and first-degree criminal abuse against Brittany Garcia and Nicholas Staples for the 2009 death of Garcia's infant daughter, Angel Nicole Tucker.  The verdict, coming on the heels of a four-day trial, was returned in Butler County Circuit Court with Judge Ronnie Dortch presiding.  Commonwealth Attorney Tim Coleman was the prosecutor.

Orginally, Garcia and Staples had been charged with first-degree murder but the jury convicted them of manslaughter, suggesting that the jury considered the pair responsible for the child's death.  

During the sentencing phase of the trial, the jury recommended a 25 -year sentence for Staples and a 15-year sentence for Garcia, though those sentences could be longer depending on how they are served.  Staples' sentence was enhanced due to a prior felony conviction.  

Formal sentencing is scheduled for November 8 before Judge Dortch.