Natasha Hunt, 24, was also sentenced this month in Marinette County Circuit Court to a year in jail but with credit for 313 days served. A video of the abuse was livestreamed on social media on Aug. 24, 2023.

The complaint alleged Hunt pulled her son’s hair repeatedly in her Niagara home even as he said “ow” and that Amara Burns, 26, of Marinette, Wis., did nothing to intervene and continued recording the abuse. When police went to arrest Burns, she resisted, kicking an officer in the face, the complaint stated.

Burns was sentenced earlier this year to three years’ probation for battery or threat to a judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer. She received a stayed prison sentence of 18 months, followed by two years extended supervision, online court records show.

Hunt was sentenced after pleading guilty to physical abuse of a child — intentionally cause bodily harm. A disorderly conduct charge was dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes.

AMARA BURNS

In a July 2 sentencing hearing before Judge Jane Sequin, Hunt softly apologized for her actions and promised to take whatever steps necessary to be a better person, the Marinette EagleHerald reported. She will not have to serve prison time unless she violates terms of her probation.

According to the EagleHerald, Hunt must receive counseling, including a parenting course and anger management program. She cannot have any alcohol or drugs without a valid prescription, including THC, whether legal in state or not. She must take all prescribed medications; she cannot frequent bars, taverns, liquor stores or any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol; she cannot frequent any dispensary; she can’t have contact with any drug users or sellers except in treatment; she is subject to random drug tests; she can’t have contact with the co-defendant; and she is to have no unsupervised contact with any child under age 18 unless agent recommends and all treatment programs are completed. She also must maintain a full-time job.

Sequin, the EagleHerald reported, said rehabilitation is very important to the sentence. The judge said Hunt knows she has a prison sentence waiting if she doesn’t follow through with the terms of her probation.

The maximum penalty for the felony abuse charge is six years in prison. Hunt had no prior record but admitted to drinking every day and regularly using marijuana, cocaine and drugs not prescribed to her, the judge stated.