A parole hearing is planned for next month for a Kansas inmate who fatally injured her 5-month-old nephew nearly 17 years ago.

Crystal J. Jasper, now 36, was convicted of first-degree murder in the March 1998 abuse death of Lance Jasper. She was caring for Lance and a niece when the boy was hurt at a Great Bend home. The boy died two days later at a hospital.

Under her sentence, she became eligible for parole after 15 years.

Jasper is incarcerated at the Topeka Correctional Facility under minimum security. Public comment sessions will be held this month in advance of the Prisoner Review board holding a parole hearing in February. If approved for parole, she could be released in March.

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Associated Press Information from: Great Bend Tribune