Mother of Boy Who Suffocated in Dryer Given 3-Month Term

A Sun Valley woman whose 5-year-old son suffocated in a clothes dryer while she was at work last May was sentenced to three months in County Jail Friday and placed on three years’ probation.

Kimberly Miranda, 25, who pleaded no contest in November to misdemeanor child endangering charges, also was ordered by Los Angeles Municipal Judge William Pounders to undergo counseling and therapy. Judge Pounders stayed the three-month jail term for six months pending a supplemental probation report.

Miranda’s son, Joshua, died and her 7-year-old daughter was seriously injured after the two children accidentally locked themselves and two kittens in a front-loading dryer last May 14. Police said Miranda and her boyfriend, John Stephens, 53, had left the children alone at the home they shared.

Police and prosecutors said the children, who were apparently playing with the kittens in the dryer, were often left home alone. Doctors said they also discovered that the children had been sexually abused.

Stephens, who is free on bail, has been charged with six counts of forcible child molestation, two counts of felony child endangering and two counts of misdemeanor child endangering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21.

Prosecutors said they expect Miranda to testify against Stephens.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth Freeman said the 7-year-old girl is still in foster care.