(CARTHAGE, Mo., AP) — A southwest Missouri man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for failing to prevent the deadly abuse of his 2-year-old daughter.

The Joplin Globe (http://bit.ly/2bOynF2 ) reports that 27-year-old Albert O’Connor, of Carthage, was sentenced Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court. His fiancee, 21-year-old Tearra Olson, is charged with second-degree murder and child abuse in the October 2015 death of Emalata “Emma” Hoeft.

Authorities said Olson admitted striking the girl’s head three times on a hard surface. The girl was dead when emergency workers arrived at the couple’s home.

Assistant Prosecutor John Podleski says O’Connor had seen Olson abuse the girl in the past and “turned a blind eye.” O’Connor also was accused of leaving the girl alone for hours at a time in the days before she died.

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Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com