Bangor mother, grandmother sentenced to 10 years in boy’s death

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - A Bangor woman will spend 10 years in prison for her role in the killing of her 10-year-old son.

Jem Bean, 37, was sentenced in a Bangor courtroom Friday morning after previously pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Bean is one of three people charged in the 2024 death of Braxton Smith, along with the child’s father and paternal grandmother.

The homeschooled 10-year-old was brought to the hospital with blunt force injuries in February 2024 after a reported fall.

His condition revealed prolonged brutal abuse. Prosecutors Friday said Braxton was “emaciated and battered.”

The investigation showed Bean didn’t participate in directly causing Braxton’s injures, but she did fail to protect him.

Bean spoke in court Friday, apologizing to Braxton and his surviving younger sister through tears.

Bean was also sentenced to six years probation and $375 restitution, her share of Braxton’s funeral, according to prosecutors.

She cannot have any contact with her biological daughter, who has been adopted into another family.

Braxton’s dad, Joshua Smith, pleaded guilty to murder earlier this month.

Joshua Smith’s mother, Mistie Latourette, was sentenced to ten years for her role in Braxtyn’s death. She changed her plea to guilty of manslaughter in early June. She has was also sentenced to 4 years of probation and restitution of $375. She cannot have any contact with Braxtyn’s sister, or any child under the age of 14.