1of21Tanya McDowell makes a statement during her sentencing in Superior Court, in Bridgeport, Conn. March 27th, 2012. McDowell was sentenced to five years in prison and another five years of probation after pleading guilty to drug and larceny charges. McDowell received national sympathy last year after Norwalk police arrested her for sending her son to a Norwalk school while they alleged that she was really living in Bridgeport. While out on bond for that arrest, she was picked up for selling drugs to undercover officers. McDowell is seen here with her attorney, Darnell Crosland.Ned Gerard2of21
FILE — Tanya McDowell stands outside the Norwalk Emergency Shelter with a photo of her son, A.J. Paches, on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Lindsay Niegelberg/ST3of214of21Tanya McDowell stands with her defense attorney, Darnell Crosland, during her appearance in Superior Court in Norwalk, Conn. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. McDowell, the Bridgeport mom arrested in April 2011 and charged with first-degree larceny for sending her then 5-year-old son to a Norwalk elementary school, will serve five years in prison and another five years of probation after pleading guilty to the larceny charge. McDowell will be issued a 12-year sentence suspended after five years. She also pleaded guilty to four counts of sale of narcotics -- counts that will be included in her prison sentence.Erik Trautmann/Contributed Photo/Erik Trautmann/The Hour/Pool Pho5of21Tanya McDowell, left, conducts a news conference before her arraignment at Norwalk Superior Court on larceny charges in Norwalk, Conn. on Wednesday April 27, 2011. She is accompanied by her attorney Darnell Crosland. McDowell allegedly used a false Norwalk address to enroll her son in Brookside Elementary School. Norwalk police arrested McDowell Friday on drug charges.Kathleen O'Rourke/ST6of217of21Tanya McDowell during the NAACP "Equal Education for All" rally at Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk, Conn., Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The rally was in support of McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport, Conn., arrested for enrolling her child at Brookside, a Norwalk, Conn., school. The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the event. Norwalk police arrested McDowell Friday on drug charges.Keelin Daly/ST8of21Tanya McDowell is arraigned in Norwalk Superior Court on larceny charges in Norwalk, Conn. on Wednesday April 27, 2011. Her attorney Darnell Crosland stands by her side. McDowell allegedly used a false Norwalk address to enroll her son in Brookside Elementary School.Kathleen O'Rourke/ST9of2110of21Tanya McDowell speaks reporters, with Jack Bryant of the Stamford NAACP, left, and attorney Darnell Crosland, right, before her arraignment in state Superior Court in Norwalk Wednesday on larceny charges. McDowell allegedly used a false Norwalk address to enroll her son in school.Kathleen O'Rourke/ST11of21Tanya McDowell, 33, is the mother of five-year-old Justin Paches. McDowell, a Bridgeport, Conn. native who is homeless, was arrested for sending her son to Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk without living in the city.John Nickerson/ST12of2113of21A group of protesters gathers outside state Superior Court in Norwalk, Conn. on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 to support Tanya McDowell, the Fairfield County woman facing larceny and drug-dealing charges. Chris Hutchinson, second from left, is the founder of the group, which is calling itself the Committee to Defend Tanya McDowell.John Nickerson14of21Tanya McDowell, the homeless mother arrested for allegedly sending her son to a Norwalk school while not living in the city during the last half of the 2010 school year, at a court appearance on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Norwalk police arrested McDowell Friday on drug charges.Douglas Healey/ST15of2116of21Rev. Al Sharpton takes the stage during the NAACP "Equal Education for All" rally at Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk, Conn., Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The rally was in support of Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport, Conn., arrested for enrolling her child at Brookside, a Norwalk, Conn., school.Keelin Daly17of21Students from Stamford, Conn., cheer during the NAACP "Equal Education for All" rally at Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk, Conn., Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The rally was in support of Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport, Conn., arrested for enrolling her child at Brookside, a Norwalk, Conn., school. Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the event.Keelin Daly18of2119of21Cynthia Jennings, civil rights attorney, left, and Carroll Brown, president of the West Haven Black Coalition, cheer during the NAACP "Equal Education for All" rally at Brookside Elementary School in Norwalk, Conn., Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The rally was in support of Tanya McDowell, a homeless woman from Bridgeport, Conn., arrested for enrolling her child at Brookside, a Norwalk, Conn., school. Rev. Al Sharpton spoke at the event.Keelin Daly20of21Tanya McDowell makes a statement during her sentencing in Superior Court, in Bridgeport, Conn. March 27th, 2012. McDowell was sentenced to five years in prison and another five years of probation after pleading guilty to drug and larceny charges. McDowell received national sympathy last year after Norwalk police arrested her for sending her son to a Norwalk school while they alleged that she was really living in Bridgeport. While out on bond for that arrest, she was picked up for selling drugs to undercover officers. McDowell is seen here with her attorney, Darnell Crosland.Ned Gerard21of21
BRIDGEPORT -- Even as she faced sentencing Tuesday for twice selling drugs to an undercover police officer, Tanya McDowell vowed she would continue to fight for a better education for her young son.
"Who would have thought that wanting a good education for my son would put me in this predicament?" McDowell lamented as she stood handcuffed before Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti. "I have no regrets seeking a better education for him, I do regret my participation in this drug case."
Last month the 34-year-old Bridgeport woman pleaded guilty in a Norwalk court to charges of first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny for illegally enrolling her 6-year-old son in Norwalk public school despite living here.
That case drew protests by residents and civil rights groups who claimed McDowell was being persecuted for her attempt to get a better education for her son.
Iannotti retorted Tuesday that the Norwalk case had nothing to do with why McDowell was before him.
"This case is about the convictions for the sale of narcotics to an undercover police officer," the judge said. "I think you understand that because that is really the essence of what has gotten you into the predicament you find yourself today."
On the two counts of sale of narcotics, the judge then sentenced her to 12 years, suspended after she serves five years and followed by five years probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a five-year sentence she received in the Norwalk case.
"When you are released, go back to doing an honest living and become a role model for your son," the judge added.
Tuesday's hearing ended a highly charged case that put a spotlight on the city's beleaguered school system and cries for changes in state legislation that makes it illegal for parents to send their children to schools in towns where they are not residents.
But support for McDowell dropped off after she was arrested by Bridgeport police in June and charged with selling marijuana and crack cocaine on two occasions to an undercover police officer outside her Dover Street home. Police said McDowell even interrupted her 6-year-old son's birthday to sell the drugs.
Assistant State's Attorney Michael DeJoseph had made strong efforts to separate the Norwalk case from the drug cases he was prosecuting.
In the end, both he and McDowell's lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said they were happy with the resolution of the cases.
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