Minnesota father sentenced to 5 years for death of his starving daughter

A Minnesota father has been sentenced to five years in prison for neglect after the death of a child on the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota.

Julius Fineday, Sr., 42, was sentenced in U.S. District Court early this week to five years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In March, he pled guilty to one count of felony child neglect resulting in death.

His daughter, 7-year-old Jewel Sky Fineday, died on Christmas Day in 2022. When she died, her physical appearance was described by the U.S. Attorney's Office as “not just thin, but skeletal."

Between January and December of 2022, Fineday deprived her of food, healthcare and other basic needs, according to court documents. She died due to the combined effects of malnutrition and a Group A Streptococcal infection.

Chief Judge Patrick J. Schlitz noted that along with failing to provide proper nutrition, Fineday failed to address the child’s head lice and kept her from attending school, where she would have received meals.

Fineday also failed to take his daughter to the doctor except to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, for which his household received a cash incentive.

Fineday’s five-year sentence is more than sentencing guidelines recommend.

The girl's grandmother, 63-year-old Sharon M. Rosebear, has been convicted of the same charges. She has not yet been sentenced.

In a statement, Schlitz said "neglecting or abusing a child will result in negative consequences not only for the child, but also the responsible adult."