ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A case involving the death of toddler ended Friday with the sentencing of Ian Thomas Jarrell. He appeared before Judge John M. Solovan II, who handed down a total sentence of 16 years in the death of Carter Matthew Caprita.

Jarrell, 28, 618 Howard St., Bridgeport, pleaded to involuntary manslaughter, a felony of the first degree, and endangering children, a felony of the third degree, both occurring Oct. 1, 2013 when Bellaire authorities were called to a village residence. According to coroner’s reports, Carter had been suffocated. Jarrell, the mother’s boyfriend, had been babysitting at the time.

Jarrell was sentenced to 11 years for involuntary manslaughter and five years for endangering children. Sentences will be served concurrently for a total of 16 years. Jarrell was given credit for 242 days.

Public Defender Frank Pierce asked Solovan to consider that the crime was not premeditated and that Jarrell called 911 and attempted to resuscitate Carter. He expressed remorse of Jarrell’s part.

“My client is not a psychopath. He’s not a child murderer. He did a very terrible thing. He cost a little boy his life. He caused pain to the parents. He’s very sorry for that,” he said. “That’s something he’ll carry in his mind and feel bad about forever.”

“The charges speak for itself. The autopsy report that you reviewed, it speaks for itself,” said Assistant Prosecutor Scott Lloyd. “It’s a horrific thing that happened.”

Solovan noted Jarrell’s past convictions, which demonstrated a pattern of escalating criminal behavior. He referred to Jarrell’s earlier pre-sentence investigation where he inferred that the death was accidental when he placed his hand over Carter’s mouth.

“This was no accident. This was a death by an unlawful, felonious act, even if the subsequent death of the child was unintended,” Solovan said. He added that while murder required proof of the purposeful killing or knowingly commission of a first or second-degree felony at the time of death.

“Make no mistake, the court recognizes that an unlawful felonious act caused the death of a child,” he said. “You can’t appreciate the pain that you’ve caused to the family members who have survived the child.

DeFrank can be reached at rdefrank@timesleaderonline.com