Melissa Brittle, 38, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to report the abuse of her grandson. A Maryland woman who stood by while her husband horrifically whipped, shook and kicked his grandson to death has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors say Melissa Dawn Brittle, 38, of Thurmont, Maryland, encouraged husband Raymond Brittle to punish two-year-old Robert Dean Watkins - who was staying with the Brittles and their three children at the time. Robert died in a Washington, DC, hospital on September 8, 2013 following injuries that State's Attorney Charlie Smith called the most horrific he has ever seen, according to the Frederick News-Post. Mrs Brittle waited until the next day to take the unconscious boy to the hospital. She told police that Robert had fallen down the stairs. Mrs Brittle's lawyer argued that she was terrified of her emotionally abusive husband and intimidated into covering up his violence against little Robert. Defense attorney Mary Drawbaugh told Daily Mail Online that Brittle had no job, no high school diploma and no driver's license. 'We adamantly denied that she encouraged the child in any way,' Mrs Drawbaugh said. Raymond Brittle has admitted to horrifically beating two-year-old Robert Dean Watkins to death in September 2013. The Brittles were looking after the boy for his mother. 'She did come clean and cooperated with police and did facilitate a call to her husband in which he confessed to the crime.' Drawbaugh asked for a 12-year sentence, the lowest end of the sentencing spectrum for the case, arguing that Mrs Brittle helped bring about her husband's guilty plea and had been prepared to testify against him. Mrs Brittle faced up to 40 years in prison under a state law that says failing to report child abuse also constitutes child abuse. A judge on Wednesday ordered her held for 20 years, with 20 years suspended. Robert Dean Watkins was the step-grandson of Raymond Brittle. Raymond and Melissa has agreed to take care of the child for his mother. Raymond Brittle has also pleaded guilty in the child abuse case and faces 55 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Prosecutors say he routinely beat and battered Robert while he was caring for his grandchild. On September 5, he became enraged at the boy when he wouldn't eat dinner. He whipped the children with a belt and kicked him. Investigators say he also lifted the boy by his head and shook him. An autopsy found that most of the boy's body was covered with bruises. He also had a fracture that covered three quarter of his skull and the injuries caused his brain to shift.

What are highlight points for this article?
Melissa Brittle was sentenced under Maryland law that says failing to report child abuse also constitutes child abuse.
Her husband Raymond Brittle whipped, kicked, shook and beat two-year-old Robert Watkins to death in September 2013.
Her lawyer says she is uneducated, was abused by her husband and terrified of him.
Melissa Brittle, 38 år, dömdes till 20 års fängelse för att ha underlåtit att anmäla misshandeln av sin sonson. En Maryland-kvinna som stod bredvid medan maken fruktansvärt piskade, skakade och sparkade ihjäl sin sonson har dömts till 20 års fängelse. Åklagare säger att Melissa Dawn Brittle, 38, från Thurmont, Maryland, uppmuntrade maken Raymond Brittle att straffa tvåårige Robert Dean Watkins - som bodde hos Brittles och deras tre barn på den tiden. Robert avled på ett sjukhus i Washington, DC den 8 september 2013 efter skador som delstatens åklagare Charlie Smith kallade det mest fasansfulla han någonsin sett, enligt Frederick News-Post. Fru Brittle väntade till nästa dag med att föra den medvetslöse pojken till sjukhuset. Hon berättade för polisen att Robert hade ramlat nerför trappan. Brittles advokat hävdade att hon var livrädd för sin känslomässigt misshandlade make och skrämdes till att dölja sitt våld mot lille Robert. Försvarsadvokaten Mary Drawbaugh sa till Daily Mail Online att Brittle inte hade något jobb, inget high school-diplom och inget körkort. "Vi förnekade bestämt att hon uppmuntrade barnet på något sätt," Mrs Drawbaugh sade. Raymond Brittle har erkänt att han fruktansvärt misshandlat tvååriga Robert Dean Watkins till döds i september 2013. Brittles tog hand om pojken efter sin mor. "Hon sa sanningen och samarbetade med polisen och underlättade ett samtal till sin man där han erkände brottet." Drawbaugh begärde ett 12-årigt straff, den lägsta änden av domsspektrumet för målet, med argumentet att Brittle hjälpte till att få till stånd sin makes skuldförklaring och hade varit beredd att vittna mot honom. Brittle fick upp till 40 års fängelse enligt en statlig lag som säger att underlåtenhet att anmäla barnmisshandel också utgör barnmisshandel. En domare på onsdag beordrade henne att hållas i 20 år, med 20 år avstängda. Robert Dean Watkins var styvfarson till Raymond Brittle. Raymond och Melissa har gått med på att ta hand om barnet åt sin mor. Raymond Brittle har också erkänt sig skyldig i barnmisshandelsfallet och står inför 55 års fängelse. Han ska dömas nästa vecka. Åklagare säger att han rutinmässigt slog och misshandlade Robert medan han vårdade sitt barnbarn. Den 5 september blev han rasande på pojken när han inte ville äta middag. Han piskade barnen med ett bälte och sparkade honom. Utredare säger att han också lyfte pojken i huvudet och skakade honom. En obduktion visade att större delen av pojkens kropp var täckt av blåmärken. Han hade också en fraktur som täckte tre fjärdedelar av hans skalle och skadorna fick hans hjärna att skifta. Vad är höjdpunkterna för den här artikeln?
Melissa Brittle, 38, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to report the abuse of her grandson. A Maryland woman who stood by while her husband horribly whipped, shook, and kicked her grandson to death has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors say Melissa Dawn Brittle, 38, of Thurmont, Maryland, encouraged husband Raymond Brittle to punish two-year-old Robert Dean Watkins - who lived with Brittles and their three children at the time. Robert died in a Washington, DC hospital on September 8, 2013 after injuries that state prosecutor Charlie Smith called the most horrific thing he ever saw, according to Frederick News-Post. Mrs. Brittle waited until the next day to bring the unconscious boy to the hospital. She told police that Robert had fallen down the stairs. Brittle's lawyer claimed she was terrified of her emotionally abused husband and was frightened to hide her violence against little Robert. Defense lawyer Mary Drawbaugh told the Daily Mail Online that Brittle had no job, no high school diploma and no driver's license. "We firmly denied that she encouraged the child somehow," Mrs. Drawbaugh said. Raymond Brittle has admitted to horribly assaulting two-year-old Robert Dean Watkins to death in September 2013. Brittles took care of the boy after his mother. "She told the truth and collaborated with police and facilitated a call to her husband where he confessed to the crime." Drawbaugh requested a 12-year sentence, the lowest end of the jurisdictional spectrum for the case, arguing that Brittle helped bring about her husband's declaration of guilt and had been prepared to testify against him. Brittle received up to 40 years in prison under a state law saying that failure to report child abuse also constitutes child abuse. A judge on Wednesday ordered her to be held for 20 years, with 20 years suspended. Robert Dean Watkins was the step-grandson of Raymond Brittle. Raymond and Melissa have agreed to take care of the child for their mother. Raymond Brittle has also pleaded guilty in the child abuse case and faces 55 years in prison. He's due for trial next week. Prosecutors say he routinely beat and abused Robert while tending to his grandson. On September 5, he was furious with the boy when he did not want to have dinner. He whipped the kids with a belt and kicked him. Investigators say he also lifted the boy's head and shook him. An autopsy showed that most of the boy's body was covered with bruises. He also had a fracture covering three quarters of his skull and the injuries caused his brain to shift. What are the highlights of this article?
Melissa Brittle dömdes enligt Marylands lag som säger att underlåtenhet att anmäla barnmisshandel också utgör barnmisshandel. Hennes make Raymond Brittle piskade, sparkade, skakade och slog ihjäl tvååriga Robert Watkins i september 2013. Hennes advokat säger att hon är obildad, blev misshandlad av sin man och livrädd för honom.
Melissa Brittle was convicted under Maryland's law saying that failure to report child abuse also constitutes child abuse. Her husband Raymond Brittle whipped, kicked, shook and beat to death two-year-old Robert Watkins in September 2013. Her lawyer says she is uneducated, was beaten by her husband and terrified of him.