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Bloomington Man Sentenced To 40 Years For Causing Death Of Daughter

Last updated on Tuesday, April 25, 2017

(BLOOMINGTON) - A Bloomington man sentenced to 40 years in prison for causing the death of his 2-month-old daughter.

According to court records, Monroe County Circuit Judge Teresa Harper sentenced 34-year-old Robierre Jomo Kenya McNeil to the maximum sentence - 40 years - for causing the death of Kenya Rose Smith-Barton.

She also imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence for neglect of a dependent resulting in death. That time will be served concurrent with the 40 year sentence.

He also is being charged $183 in court costs and a $150 public defender fee.

The baby died Sunday, May 29, 2016 after medical personnel attempted for more than 45 minutes to revive the baby in the emergency room at IU Health Hospital Bloomington.

According to a forensic pathologist, the baby suffered two fractures to the back of her skull and subdural hemorrhaging of the brain caused from blunt force trauma to her head.

McNeil testified that he did not hurt the baby, but that he fell down while holding the baby. McNeil told police that he blamed himself for his daughter's death, but told police that he did not kill her.

Police say McNeil failed to physically check on Kenya, did not get her medical care when he thought she was having trouble breathing and left her in a swing without feeding her for more than 7 hours.

Six years ago, McNeil pleaded guilty to a child molesting stemming from a 2008 incident. He was 26 and traveled to Bloomington from Virginia to meet and have sex with a 13-year-old Bloomington girl, who nine months later gave birth to his baby. He received a two-year jail sentence in that case and had to register as a sex offender for the next five years.

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