Tiara Allen, 27

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

FOWLER -- A Fowler woman who pled guilty to assault in the first-degree in the shaking death of a five-month old infant in 2023 is expected to receive 14 years in prison.

According to a release from District Attorney Gary Pasqua, Tiara Allen, 27, accepted a plea deal on Jan. 31 that included 14 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

Allen was slated to go to trial on Feb. 3 but admitted she "recklessly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death to the infant under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life."

"She further admitted her actions caused serious physical injury, including death, to the infant," Pasqua said.

Allen was originally indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Reckless Assault of a Child and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in regards to the death of the child.

She has been held in St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility since the incident on $250,000 bail.

Prior to the murder charge, Allen was arraigned for charges of reckless assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child and ordered held in lieu of $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond.

Police said Allen was charged after an investigation determined that on July 7, 2023 around 9:40 a.m., she was in the care of her boyfriend’s 5-month-old child at their residence on Sand Road in the town of Fowler. Allen allegedly became "frustrated with the child’s incessant crying" and began to shake the child, police said.

Shortly thereafter, the child became unresponsive and was transported to Gouverneur Hospital.

The child was transported to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, Syracuse, NY, where the child was diagnosed with Anoxic Brain Injury and Subdural Hematomas as result of Allen’s actions, police said.

The child died as a result of the injuries.

On July 13, 2023 Allen, was charged for reckless assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child, but now more severe charges have been filed in the wake of the victim's death.

With the plea deal now in place, Allen will continue to be held at St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility.

She will be sentenced on April 2 at 10 a.m. in St. Lawrence County Court.