Prairie City woman Jena M. Wright was sentenced Monday to no more than 10 years in prison with the possibility of parole for the 2013 dog mauling death of 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt.
Jasper County District Court Judge Richard Clogg handed down the sentence at the Jasper County Courthouse with family members of both Wright and the 4-year-old victim in attendance.
Wright, 27, was found guilty in May of child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony, and neglect or abandonment of an independent, a Class C felony. Prosecutors accused the defendant of leaving Arndt unsupervised with her American Staffordshire terrier while babysitting when it attacked Arndt April 22, 2013.
Wright received 10 years in prison for counts one and two of the indictment.
The judge also issued an additional one year for assaulting a police officer and two years for interference with official acts during her arrest more than two years ago. All sentences will run concurrently.
Before sentencing, the defendant withdrew previously filed motions for a new attorney, a new trial and in arrest of judgment.
Jessica Arndt – Jordyn Arndt’s mother – delivered a victim statement to the court saying the defendant should not have placed her child in danger.
“There was no reason why she was not watching our children. The whole thing could have been prevented if she was watching my child,” Jessica Arndt said. “She could have seen a sign or could have been there to see it happen or could have helped a bit sooner, which could have saved my daughter’s life.”
Arndt described how the loss of her daughter has impacted her everyday life and that she will never be able to see her girl grow up.
She also shared her disgust on how the defendant acted throughout the trial and asked the court to deliver a punishment to the full extent of the law.
“She went through court without shedding one tear for Jordyn until she was finally found guilty – then she showed emotion. Anyone with a heart should have at least shown some type of emotion just by hearing the story or seeing those awful pictures of Jordyn after the attack,” Arndt said.
Another statement was given by the victim’s father, Jason Arndt. He expressed the pain his family has gone through in the past two years and said the only time he gets to see his daughter is in his dreams.
And for the first time in court, after deciding not to testify during trial, the defendant spoke for three minutes about her memories of Jordyn Arndt and how her loss has impacted everyone involved. Wright read her full statement while crying.
“The unforeseeable incident that occurred on April 22, 2013, will not only change the lives we gave to our children, but both of our lives forever,” Wright said. “Not only do I feel like I lost Jordyn that day, but I lost my friendship with Jessica Arndt – Jordyn’s mother and my best friend. Along with Jessica and her family, myself and my family have also been greatly affected by this tragic accident.”
Wright then issued an apology to her former best friend.
“Jessica, I am truly sorry for the loss of Jordyn,” she said. “I hope you can remember the good times we shared, and that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
The guilty verdict in May came more than two years after the incident. The mother said she is frustrated by all the continuances the case went through, prolonging the trial, but she thanked the court for the guilty verdict.
Wright will serve her sentence at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville.
Contact Alex Olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com