Red Lake woman found guilty of Child Neglect in death of a child

A Red Lake woman has been found guilty of child neglect following the death of a child in her care, according to the U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to a release from the Department of Justice, 63-year-old Sharon Rosebear intentionally deprived a child of necessary food and health care during 2022. According to the trial transcript, the child died that same year from a combination of starvation and infection.

The trial took six days and Rosebear was found guilty of felony child neglect. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

According to the report from the U.S. attorney, Rosebear and co-defendant, Julius Fineday Sr., were both federally charged in 2023. Rosebear was charged with felony child neglect resulting in substantial harm, and her Fineday Sr. was charged with second degree manslaughter.

The attorney general’s office says in accordance with Minnesota law, Rosebear’s lack of formal legal custody did not alter her responsibility to the child. Neglect included not bringing the child to health appointments, withholding food and by looking the other way while the child’s health deteriorated. Court documents say the child died at the same weight she had been nearly three years earlier.

Rosebear’s co-defendant, Julius Fineday Sr., entered a guilty plea to his charge prior to trial on March 25, 2022.

The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.