The mother of a 2-year-old girl was sentenced to the STAR Community Justice Center on a charge of child endangerment Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Michelle Brandenburg, 22, of 19 Township Road 1336, South Point, admitted to the third-degree felony on Sept. 29, as well as a third-degree charge of obstructing justice.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson, the child had been taken to the hospital with a broken arm and leg and Brandenburg lied to medical staff and children’s services, saying the girl fell off a slide.

Brandenburg’s then boyfriend, Cory Brewer, 23, of 428 Township Road 109, is alleged to have caused the injuries. Brewer was arraigned on a count of child endangerment and a second-degree count of felonious assault in mid-August, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Anderson also said Brandenburg and Brewer were under the influence of heroin at the time of the incident.

The prosecutor also said Brandenburg has made positive steps since the incident, including complying with children’s service, voluntary outpatient drug counseling and negative drug screens. He recommended the woman complete the STAR Community Justice Center program.

“This is a very serious case,” Anderson said. “And something I have put much thought into for the sentencing recommendations.”

Tyler Smith, Brandenburg’s attorney, said there was no evidence the woman was using heroin at the time of the incident and that she had no prior criminal record.

“I don’t see what STAR is going to do that she hasn’t done in the past three months,” Smith said.

Before Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced her, Brandenburg made a tearful statement.

“… I never hurt my kids,” she said. “I don’t know what else to say.”

Bowling sentenced the woman to complete STAR, four years of community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation and 200 hours community service.

If Brandenburg violates any of the conditions of her probation, she could be sent to prison for up to 36 months.

In other cases:

• Diana Maddox, 26, of 37CA Ira Road, Cumberland, Va., pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of possession of drugs. Bowling sentenced the woman to four years CCS/ISP, outpatient drug counseling, a $1,250 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension.

• Nikki Brammer, 23, of 328 Susan Court, Ironton, admitted CCS violations of bringing heroin into the Mended Reeds facility. Bowling sentenced the woman to 22 months in prison with a possible judicial release to STAR in the future.

• Frank Lewis, 31, of 2212 N. Fifth St., Ironton, was arraigned on a fifth-degree count of breaking and entering, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Bowling set bond at $7,500 cash or surety and $7,500 own-recognizance.