Grand Island woman convicted for hiding child during house fire

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A Grand Island woman will be sentenced in February for putting her child in danger during a house fire.

According to officials, 36-year-old Jessica Fountain was convicted Monday of felony child abuse. She’ll be sentenced Feb. 13, 2024. She could get up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Court records indicate that a house on South Eddy street was reported on fire in June. While the fire was contained to the outside of the home, there was enough smoke inside that firefighters had to wear oxygen masks. Firefighters found Fountain and a small child inside a closet covered with blankets. A police investigator said Fountain and her child were discovered only after firefighters went into the house a second time.

At the time Fountain told police she didn’t hear firefighters call out and denied she was hiding. A warrant for her arrest on a meth distribution charge was pending at the time of the fire. She has also been convicted on the drug charge and will be sentenced for that crime on Feb. 13 as well.

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