![<p>Crystal Mears listens to testimony during her sentencing for locking her children in a basement without access to food or a proper toilet at Flathead District Court on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>](https://hagadone.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/ARTICLE_311189979_H1_0_VDASGMGRNTXE_t1170.jpg?5cc718665ab672dba93d511ab4c682bb370e5f86)
<p>Crystal Mears listens to testimony during her sentencing for locking her children in a basement without access to food or a proper toilet at Flathead District Court on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
November 18, 2016
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November 18, 2016 11:30 a.m.
Women sent to prison for locking children in basement
Flathead District Judge Robert Allison went beyond the bounds of a plea agreement and sent two women to prison Friday for locking their children in the basement.