An Oregon man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for the cocaine-related death of his 8-day-old daughter — double the sentence the same judge gave the baby’s mother five days earlier.

Justin Soll, 32, pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the Feb. 25 death of his newborn daughter, Emilia Soll. Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Joe McNamara imposed the near-maximum sentence, citing Soll’s roughly two dozen prior misdemeanor convictions and his failure to regain sobriety.

The baby died of anoxic encephalopathy caused by cocaine toxicity, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled, classifying her death a homicide in May.

Soll and the baby’s mother, Shannon Wester, 29, were living in the basement of Wester’s family’s home in the 2900 block of Luverne Avenue in Oregon when Soll called 911 around 4 a.m. on Feb. 22. The infant died three days later at Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo. A grand jury indicted both parents on involuntary manslaughter charges in July.

“I am deeply sorry,” Soll told the courtroom Wednesday, saying he struggled with drug addiction and should have sought help before his daughter was born. “I failed to put her needs before my own.”

Prosecutor Samantha Crist asked for the maximum 11 years, noting Soll was watching the baby while Wester recovered from a C-section. Defense attorney Autumn Adams argued both parents were equally responsible. McNamara told Soll no sentence would bring Emilia back: “You’re a danger to the community when you’re using.”

Soll’s plea came one week after Wester’s: she pleaded guilty Oct. 9 to first-degree involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison — read ToledoBuzz’s Oct. 30 coverage of the mother’s sentencing here.

You can read The Blade’s Nov. 4 story on Soll’s sentencing for full courtroom details.

Lucas County Courthouse, Toledo — Wikimedia Commons (DPLA collection).