Summer Many White Horses, charged with negligent homicide in the death of her 2-year old son James, learned her fate in a Great Falls courtroom on Wednesday.

Judge Julie Macek sentenced Many White Horses to 40 years at the Montana Women's Prison on a charge of negligent homicide, and 15 years consecutively on a charge of tampering with evidence - about half the time the state recommended.

The body of the toddler was found in the trunk of his mother's car last September, and Many White Horses later admitted to hiding the boy's dead body in the car for almost three months.

Prosecutor John Parker had asked for 100 years on the negligent homicide charge, and 20 years concurrently for tampering with evidence.

Many White Horses was declared a persistent felony offender in today's hearing based on a long record of DUI's, felony escape, felony forgery and assault on a peace officer; this allowed the state to recommend higher sentences.

Many White Horses struck a plea deal June 12, just days before her murder trial was set to begin.

Parker said, "The plea agreement provided some great benefits; her surviving child is 11 years old and now we didn't have to make that girl testify against her mom. Most people in the community don't even believe that this kind of horrfying conduct is possible. We're very grateful today that Summer Many White Horses is on her way to the Montana Women's Prison."

In disturbing testimony Great Falls Police detective Bruce McDermott recounted finding the decomposed body of little 2-year old James Many White Horses, and how his mother continued to cash his Social Security checks for months after his death, and forced her daughter to serve as a lookout while she tried to hide the body.

But in her decision Judge Julie Macek cited the inconclusive autopsy results, which could not determine a cause of death.

Summer Many White Horses was given credit for 336 days served, and she will be eligible for parole in 2023.