NY man sentenced for toddler's drug-overdose death

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man has received six to eight years in prison for the drug-related death of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter.

Joshua J. Bennett said at his sentencing Friday that he had loved Kayleigh Cassell, who died a year ago.

That prompted a court onlooker to interject: "You liar!"

Tests showed Kayleigh had ingested heroin and cocaine for much of her life.

Kayleigh's mother, Rachel Ball, will be sentenced March 4 after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide and drug charges. She faces up to 11 years.

Bennett's sentence was part of a plea deal on criminally negligent homicide and felony drug counts. Defense attorney Garfield Raymond says Bennett has asked him to appeal the drug counts.