ANGOLA, MI – A Fort Wayne woman was ordered to serve 12 years in prison after being arrested in October 2021 following the beating of a three-year-old child.

Sentencing came from the Steuben County Circuit Court for 26-year-old Dakota McHenry. She entered into a plea agreement with Steuben County prosecutors on October 31, 2022 which was one week before she was scheduled to go on trial.

She was convicted on a felony count of Domestic Battery with Serious Bodily Injury to a Person Under 14.

Two other chargers were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

McHenry was given credit for seven days already served in jail.

Pierce was reportedly given a nine year prison sentence with three years suspended.

Things unfolded back in 2021 when the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office was notified after the injured child was taken to Cameron Hospital.

At that time, an investigation revealed that the injuries were inconsistent with the information being provided by the father, 31-year-old Derek Pierce of Kendallville, and McHenry who was Pierce’s girlfriend at the time.

It was determined that the injuries happened in Steuben County, at the HI-VUE campground near Lake Gage.