Apple Valley woman sentenced in toddler's chili powder death

KABC logo
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
This photo, provided by the victim's grandmother, shows 2-year-old Joilene, who died from ingesting chili powder.
This photo, provided by the victim's grandmother, shows 2-year-old Joileen Garcia, who died from ingesting chili powder.
KABC-KABC

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) -- An Apple Valley woman convicted of killing a 2-year-old girl by forcing her to eat chili powder has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison.

Amanda Sorensen, 24, was sentenced on Monday in Victorville. She was convicted of second-degree murder last fall.

Officials say Sorensen tried to discipline her boyfriend's daughter, Joileen Garcia, two years ago by giving her chili powder and cupping her hand over her mouth to keep her from spitting it out. Garcia had a seizure and died at a hospital.

Sorensen's attorney says his client didn't know chili powder could be deadly.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.