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Do you remember Shanesha Taylor, the Arizona mom whose teary-eyed mug shot went viral last summer after it became national news that she left two of her children – just 2 years and six months at the time – in a hot car while went on a job interview in Scottsdale, Arizona?

The 35-year-old mother of four pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse in order to avoid a second count, which prosecutors dismissed upon her agreement. Taylor has been given the lengthy probation sentence of eighteen years so that both her youngest children will be adults by the time her probation ends. She will also have to complete parenting classes as part of her sentence.

Taylor was at first pled guilty to one count of child abuse. But after a crowdfunding campaign raised over $100,000 for her and her children, Taylor missed two deadlines to put the money in a trust fund as part of plea agreement. It has been reported that the mother of four spent some of the money helping a boyfriend out with recording costs for his rap career.

AZcentral.com reports:

Her defense team has said she wants to move to Chicago, where she expects to have financial support.

Prosecutor Faith Klepper said the state was concerned about Taylor’s sense of responsibility. She said Taylor lied during the trial, claiming to have been living in a car when she was really living with family, Klepper said.

Klepper argued Taylor was offered jobs as she was trying to get employed, but that those opportunities were wasted when she refused them.

Klepper also said that Taylor, who once blamed her inability to secure work on media coverage, invited media attention with press conferences she held during the last year.

But Taylor’s defense attorney, Valeria Llewellyn, said Taylor did not turn down jobs, and that “efforts were made and interviews were attended.”

“Cameras and microphones are thrust in her face … she felt compelled to defend herself,” Llewellyn said.

Llewellyn said Taylor’s status as a military veteran left her with a mentality that makes it “hard to admit that things aren’t working out.”

But what do you think? Is 18 years of probation too long? Should the sentence be reduced? Or should Taylor have to face prison time?

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Hot Car Mom Shanesha Taylor Given 18 Years Probation  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com