Deandra Haleigh-Alexis Fuhr-Farlow, 32, was sentenced today to a term of 125 to 162 months—approximately 10.4 to 13.5 years—in prison for Intentional Child Abuse Inflicting Serious Injury, a Class B2 felony under North Carolina law.
The sentencing, announced by the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, follows Fuhr-Farlow’s conviction for her role in the death of 12-week-old Riley Stephenson.
Her sentence is a result of a plea agreement in which prosecutors reduced her original charge of First-Degree Murder in exchange for her full cooperation and testimony against co-defendant Nicholas Shane Stephenson.
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District Attorney Todd Williams emphasized the importance of her assistance, stating, “The cooperation provided by Fuhr-Farlow was essential in securing a conviction against Stephenson, ensuring that both individuals responsible for the cruelty inflicted on this child face justice.”
Fuhr-Farlow’s testimony proved critical in the successful prosecution of Nicholas Shane Stephenson, the child’s father. Stephenson was convicted last month by a Buncombe County jury of Second-Degree Murder and Felony Child Abuse in his daughter’s death.
Following his conviction, Superior Court Judge George Bell sentenced Stephenson to a lengthy prison term. He received an active sentence of 200 to 252 months for the Second-Degree Murder conviction, which will be followed by a consecutive active sentence of 125 to 162 months for the Felony Child Abuse conviction.
Prosecutors presented evidence at Stephenson’s trial, which concluded last month, arguing that he was responsible for the infant’s death, citing factors including torture, abuse, neglect, and malnutrition. The jury ultimately convicted Stephenson of the lesser-included offense of Second-Degree Murder, rather than the original charge of First-Degree Murder.
District Attorney Williams commented on the graphic nature of the case following Stephenson’s conviction, stating, “We are grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence, which has held Stephenson accountable for the heartless cruelty he inflicted on this most vulnerable and innocent child.”
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