Bozeman woman charged with smothering infant

 BILLINGS (AP) — A Bozeman woman who prosecutors say fell asleep in a Billings hotel room in February 2012 and smothered her infant son is charged with felony negligent homicide.

Tiffany Michele Hossner, 34, pleaded not guilty Tuesday during a hearing before District Court Judge Gregory Todd.

Todd allowed Hossner to remain free on a previously posted $25,000 bond, but agreed to a request from the prosecutor that she participate in a sobriety program.

Charging documents said Hossner’s blood-alcohol level was 0.296 percent several hours after the death of her 3-month-old son.

Tiffany Hossner was accompanied in court by her husband and the couple’s newborn child.

The charge was filed last month after a lengthy investigation that included assistance from the FBI.

Officers were called to the Holiday Inn at about 6 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2012, on a report of a deceased infant.

Tiffany Hossner was hysterical and unable to give a statement and was taken to Billings Clinic.

Josh Hossner told officers his wife, daughter and infant son had traveled to Billings to pick him up after he was released from the Yellowstone County jail, where he spent two weeks behind bars for traffic violations, court records said.

Hossner said he took his daughter to the hotel pool at about 3:30 p.m. while his wife stayed in the room to nurse their son. He said he returned to the room at about 5 p.m. and found his wife asleep on top of the baby.

He said he woke her up and grabbed the baby, who was not breathing, and attempted to revive the child. He said he was unable to because his wife became hysterical, court records said.

Hossner told officers he stepped outside to “smoke a cigarette and get his daughter some food,” and then called 911 when he returned to the room at about 6 p.m.

When asked why he did not immediately call 911, Hossner told officers he wasn’t sure what to do and was trying to calm down his wife.

Prosecutors say the 911 call most likely did not come from the hotel.

At the hospital, Tiffany Hossner told officers she had fallen asleep while nursing the baby and denied taking any prescription medications or drinking alcohol.