Woman sentenced for beating boy, 6

A Coeur d’Alene woman was sentenced to supervised probation Monday for beating a 6-year-old foster son so severely that he was hospitalized with a head injury.

Joyce D. Hibshman, 37, no longer has custody of the boy and two other foster children who were in her home, her lawyer said during Monday’s sentencing hearing at the Kootenai County Courthouse.

Hibshman was arrested in July after bringing the injured boy to Kootenai Medical Center. The hospital’s emergency room staff contacted police.

Another foster child in the home told police that Hibshman had beat the boy “for eating mommy’s chocolate bars.”

First District Judge Fred Gibler sentenced Hibshman Monday to 40 days in the sheriff’s labor program and six years in prison, but suspended the prison term and placed her on three years supervised probation. If she violates terms of her probation, she could be forced to serve out the sentence.

Hibshman’s two biological daughters remain in the custody of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Her attorney, Peter Jones, testified Monday that she is working to regain custody.

Jones said Hibshman had taken on too much responsibility in providing foster care for the boys and didn’t ask for help when she needed it.

“It backfired in a horrendous way,” Jones said.

Hibshman was tearful as she apologized before the judge.

“I’d give anything to go back and change the events of that day,” she said.