A 21-year-old Mitchell woman entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea for a charge of second-degree murder on Tuesday at the Davison County Public Safety Center. The case stems from the death of a 5-year-old boy, who police say Julia Lee Carter admitted to kicking five times resulting in his death.
With attorneys Chris Nipe and Zachary Flood appointed to Carter, she faces a count of second-degree murder, punishable upon conviction with a mandatory life sentence in the state penintentary and up to a $50,000 fine. There are also alternative charges of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree manslaughter with parole, which are Class C felonies that are punishable upon conviction by up to a life sentence and a $50,000 fine.
She also faces a charge of aggravated assault, and an alternative charge of child abuse. Both are a Class 3 felony, punishable upon conviction by up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.
Judge Chris Giles approved the request of a private investigator, with a budget for $5,000.
A motions hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 8. The date for motions to be filed is 5 p.m. on Aug. 19. According to Giles, there is unlikely to be a jury trial until 2021. Her $100,000 cash bond remained.
