Stillwater, MN  (Learfield Wire Services/TTWN Media Networks) -- A Washington County man will spend up to 25 years prison for the death of a 16-month-old child.

Prosecutors say 29-year-old David Wierstad of Willernie pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder and received a 300-month sentence. Police and paramedics responded to an unresponsive child in May of 2017 who was in Wierstad's care. The child underwent emergency brain surgery at Gillette Children's Hospital and died on June 3rd.  Wierstad claimed the child fell down the stairs, but the medical examiner determined the cause of death was homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

Wierstad was already on probation at the time for causing brain damage to an ex-girlfriend's three-year-old daughter in St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said "no amount of prison time can adequately offset this defendant's actions."

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