SC mom gets no prison for leaving baby in toilet

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A mother who abandoned her newborn in the toilet of a South Carolina sports arena has avoided prison time.

Jessica Blackham was sentenced to a year of house arrest and three years of probation Wednesday after pleading guilty.

Prosecutors say the 26-year-old Blackham went into labor while watching the circus in February 2011 and gave birth to a 6-pound boy in a cramped stall. She left the child in the toilet and went home with her family.

Authorities say the baby was found by a cleaning crew 90 minutes later, his neck just above the water and with a body temperature of 85 degrees. The newborn survived and is developing normally.

Blackham apologized, telling the judge she may have not been thinking clearly because of blood loss.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WSOC