CATLETTSBURG, Ky. — An Ironton woman was sentenced last week to a year in prison as punishment for leaving her then-3-month-old granddaughter in a car while she went into a grocery store.

Sandra Cook, 56, of 335 Gallia Pike, was convicted in May of second-degree criminal abuse in Boyd County Circuit Court after a trial before Judge George W. Davis III.

“What’s different is the intent,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Greer explained. “First degree (criminal intent) involves intentionally acting to cause harm. With second degree, it involves risk a reasonable person would guard against and she wantonly decided not to guard against that risk.”

Authorities said on July 9, 2010, Cook left her 3-month old granddaughter in her vehicle while she went into the now-closed Foodland grocery store on 13th Street in Ashland. The child was taken to a local hospital afterward and was suffering from dehydration, authorities said.

Greer said people convicted of class-D felonies are eligible for parole after serving 15 percent of their sentence.

During the trial Greer said Cook maintained she was only in the store for a few minutes and had had a problem with the child’s safety seat.

Christopher Dawson, attorney for Cook, was contacted but did not return the telephone call by press time.