Woman sentenced for 2019 child abuse that unfolded in Spring Township

Oct. 21—BELLEFONTE — A woman who pleaded guilty to improperly caring for one of her children was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation.

Ashley Gunsallus, 32, was also sentenced by Centre County President Judge Pamela Ruest to 100 hours of community service. She declined comment before her sentence was handed down.

Gunsallus, of Cumberland County, pleaded guilty in September to one misdemeanor count of child endangerment. Spring Township police accused her in July 2019 of nutritional neglect.

The infant's weight would increase while in the hospital, but would "dramatically decrease or stay the same" when he was released, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.

The police department's investigation also led to charges against the child's father.

Garrett Gunsallus, 26, pleaded no contest in July to one misdemeanor count each of simple assault and child endangerment. The plea meant he accepted the convictions, but did not expressly admit he committed the crimes.

Gunsallus, of Centre Hall, was accused of squeezing the infant's legs to the point of bruising, as well as nutritional neglect. A felony charge that accused him of feeding a beer and formula mixture to a toddler was dropped.

He was sentenced in September to six months of house arrest and five years of probation.

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