Man takes plea bargain in meth death of baby

A man who left some methamphetamine near a baby who was able to consume some of it and subsequently died has pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter. Another charge of third-degree felony desecration of a dead human body was dismissed.

Raymond Daniel Chesley, 44, admitted he was responsible for leaving the meth near Estella Jean Lacey, the 5-month-old daughter of his girlfriend.

The child managed to consume enough meth to overdose, but upon discovering this, Chesley and his girlfriend, Mary Joyce Lacey, 23, did not seek medical help. The baby died in the early hours of Dec. 28, 2005. The pair moved the child's body from Chesley's house in Taylorsville to another house in Murray to avoid having police come to Chesley's residence, according to court documents.

Chesley is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 21 by 3rd District Judge Stephen Roth. A second-degree felony carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Lacey has already pleaded guilty to third-degree felony desecration of a dead human body, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Her sentencing is set for Jan. 11 also before Roth.