Mother tells son who killed 3-year-old stepsister: 'You don't mistakenly murder somebody'

DAYTON, Ohio – A western Ohio man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for strangling his 3-year-old stepsister.

The Dayton Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1KiB8HJ ) Brian Scales, who turns 22 on Sunday, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of murder, aggravated murder and child endangering in the death of Tristan Carlton in February.

The toddler's mother told police she found Carlton unresponsive after coming home from shopping. Medics attempted to revive the girl but were unsuccessful.

Prosecutors said Scales strangled his stepsister.

Insas Scales told her son at sentencing that she still loved him but "it was the devil that took ahold of you" the day Carlton died.

Brian Scales said it was a mistake what happened, but his mother told him "you don't mistakenly murder somebody."

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Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com