Centereach mother gets 16 years for trying to smother newborn, DA says

A Centereach mother who tried but failed to smother her newborn son with a pillow just after giving birth at home last year was sentenced to 16 years in prison for attempted murder, prosecutors said.

The sentence imposed Thursday on Soily Aparicio Santos, 33, includes 5 years of post-release supervision, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Timothy Sini said.

Suffolk County Court Judge Anthony Senft also issued an order of protection for the infant lasting nearly 30 years, until 2047.

The maximum sentence Aparicio Santos faced was 25 years, the spokeswoman said. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 18 years.

On Sept. 15, 2017, Aparicio Santos tried to smother her newborn, prosecutors said. A family member "saw the baby with a pillow over his head and called the police."

The newborn, who did not sustain serious injuries, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for evaluation. He was placed in foster care, prosecutors said.

In addition to second-degree attempted murder, the Riverhead jury on Sept. 27 convicted Aparicio Santos of first- and second-degree attempted assault and endangering the welfare of a child.