A Tulsa County judge formally sentences a day care operator to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of a 2-year-old boy.

District Judge Clancy Smith today rejected Vicki Chiles' pleas for forgiveness and understanding before concurring with the recommendation of a jury that convicted her April 24th of first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Minton.

Joshua died May 17th of asphyxiation after Chiles taped his mouth and hands at her in-home day care center. Chiles told police she used the tape as a last resort to quiet Joshua, who she said was fussy during nap time.

Chiles's attorney, Richard Couch, says she didn't intend to kill the boy and a no-parole life term is cruel and unusual punishment.

Chiles was scheduled to go on trial today on a separate child abuse charge, but it was deferred a week.

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