Montana woman sentenced to life in prison for role in grandson’s torture and death

BOZEMAN, Mont. (TCD) -- A judge sentenced a West Yellowstone woman to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to killing her 12-year-old grandson and failing to seek medical help for him when he was injured.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Patricia Batts received a life sentence Tuesday, Aug. 22, for the death of James "Alex" Hurley. Gallatin County Judge John Brown also sentenced her to 20 years for criminal child endangerment and tampering with witnesses.

At the sentencing, Brown reportedly said videos showing Hurley being abused "are some of the most horrible things that I’ve seen in my 16 years on the bench."

Hurley lived with Batts and her husband, James Sasser Jr., as well as other relatives. Sasser Jr. was sentenced to 100 years in prison last year for felony deliberate homicide, 10 years for felony child endangerment, and 10 years for tampering with a witness.

Batts, Sasser Jr., and a juvenile who is also Hurley’s uncle were arrested Feb. 12, 2020, on charges related to Hurley’s death. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said Hurley died on or about Feb. 3, 2020.

According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Hurley moved in with his grandparents after his father became paralyzed following an ATV accident. His dad died in 2018, and Hurley stayed in Batts' custody.

James Sasser III, who was 14 years old at the time, hit Hurley with a wooden paddle, which killed him. Batts reportedly told her children to lie to law enforcement about Hurley’s death. The boy had bruises on several parts of his body.

Multiple videos taken from their cellphones reportedly show Hurley’s relatives laughing at him as they taunt him. Sasser Jr. told him, "You’re a nothing, a nobody that no one will ever like. They’ll make fun of you your whole goddamn life."

In another video, a 5-year-old child reportedly played while Hurley was being abused. Deputy county attorney Bjorn Boyer said during Sasser Jr.’s sentencing the 5-year-old was "laughing" and made it seem the abuse was "normal."

Court documents cited by Montana Right Now say some of the abuse entailed Batts, Sasser Jr., and Sasser III making Hurley stand up for extended periods of time. Batts reportedly told detectives Hurley and Sasser III got into a "bad fight" and "bloodbath" Jan. 27. Sasser III confessed to detectives that he kicked Hurley in the head.

Sasser III will remain in a juvenile detention facility until he is 18 and on probation until he’s 25, Montana Right Now reports.

MORE:

• West Yellowstone woman receives life sentence for deliberate homicide of grandson - Bozeman Daily Chronicle
• Montana woman pleads guilty to role in 12-year-old grandson’s abuse death, 5/26/2023 - TCD
• Montana man gets 100 years for role in 12-year-old grandson’s beating death, 3/7/2022 - TCD
• West Yellowstone man sentenced to 100 years for role in grandson's murder, 3/4/2022 - Bozeman Daily Chronicle
• Court documents describe pattern of abuse in case of 12-year-old's death, 2/27/2020 - Montana Right Now
• Teen uncle accepts plea deal in 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy's death, 5/31/2023 - Montana Right Now