An Oklahoma mother could spend the rest of her life in prison after a jury convicted her of enabling the sexual abuse of her 11-year-old daughter and neglecting the child.
According to Law&Crime, a Muskogee County jury found Cherie Dawn Walker Guilty of one count of enabling child sexual abuse and six counts of child neglect.
Jurors recommended life sentences for each of the seven convictions, though the trial judge will make the final decision at a later sentencing hearing.
The case follows the conviction of Walker's husband, Dustin Joel Walker, who previously pleaded Guilty to sexually abusing a child under 12 and six counts of child neglect.
In June, a judge sentenced Dustin Walker to life in prison plus 42 years.
He was ordered to serve the additional 42 years before beginning the life sentence and must register as a sex offender.
The investigation began in 2025 after authorities learned that the couple's 11-year-old daughter had given birth to a full-term baby
inside the family's Muskogee County home.
The child reportedly had no prenatal care or medical assistance during the birth.
Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson previously said DNA testing showed a "99% certainty" that Dustin Walker was the baby's father.
"This child is traumatized. She's been through a horrific ordeal,"
Hutson said in an interview with a local television station. "Not only has somebody gotten her pregnant, but she gave birth at home without medical assistance, and this will be her life for the rest of her life."
Hutson also said the girl had been removed from school, potentially limiting opportunities for teachers or medical professionals to recognize signs of abuse.
Family members previously denied knowing the girl was pregnant.
Her maternal grandmother, Michelle Justus, said, "I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening. None of us."
Prosecutors have argued that evidence showed the child had been neglected over an extended period and that the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy and delivery supported the charges.
Justus is also facing a child neglect charge and is scheduled to stand trial July 23.
Cherie Walker's sentencing now rests with the trial judge. If the judge follows the jury's recommendations, she could receive a life sentence on each of her seven felony convictions.