Lori Jo Bean sentenced to five years probation

   Lori Jo Bean was given five years of probation at her sentencing hearing Monday morning. She was also given a suspended sentence of 17 years in prison, which she will not serve barring misconduct during her probation. District Court Judge Michael Mullins handed down Bean?s sentence. In December, Bean was found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Joye L. Gentzler, who died in February 2008. Gentzler spent the final 14 months of her life at the Beans? home in Ainsworth.

    Bean?s defense attorney Eric Tindal began the hearing by arguing for a new trial. He said the state did not prove what it needed to prove to convict Bean of intentional adult abuse. Tindal also said the state presented no evidence that the injuries to Gentzler were caused intentionally. Tindal said there was no evidence of a causal connection between the defendant?s actions and the victim?s loss of life. He said the prosecution merely presented evidence suggesting Gentzler?s life could have been better, which he said is not evidence of manslaughter.

    Mullins dismissed Tindal?s request for a new trial. He said the jury already heard the evidence in the case and made its decision based on that evidence. Mullins said Tindal?s argument did not rise to the level of legal argument that would warrant a new trial.

    Tindal objected to the inclusion of the pre-sentencing interview Bean gave on Jan. 19. In that interview, the investigator asked Bean what she thought an appropriate punishment would be for herself. Tindal said that was an inappropriate question.

    Washington County Attorney Larry Brock represented the state at the sentencing hearing, taking over for former County Attorney Barb Edmondson who prosecuted the case in December. Brock said the pre-sentencing interview contains useful information. In it, Brock quoted Bean as saying, ?Do I feel guilty? No,? and also that Bean said she should receive at most a suspended sentence.

    ?The defendant feels no remorse,? said Brock. ?She does not feel she committed a crime.?

    Tindal said that Bean was indeed remorseful and that the portion of her comments Brock read was taken out of context.

    Joye Gentzler?s son Burdette Gentzler prepared a victim impact statement to be read at the hearing. Penny Galvin of the Horizon Survivor?s Program read Burdette?s statement. In it, Burdette wrote that Bean was supposed to take care of his mother, but instead ?stripped her of her dignity.?

For the full story, see the Feb. 15 edition of The Washington Evening Journal