A Douglas County couple urged a judge to impose jail time Tuesday for the day-care provider who put their child’s life in danger.

But despite Shane and Lauri Kuntz’ pleas, Judge Jack Murphy placed Maryanna Rawlings on supervised probation for one year during a sentencing hearing in Douglas County District Court.

“There’s truly no excuse for the neglect that happened to our 8-month-old daughter,” a tearful Lauri Kuntz told the judge.

Rawlings, who operated a day care for 19 years out of her home in the 1800 section of North 1100 Road, pleaded no contest in October to a felony charge of aggravated child endangerment.

The charge stemmed from an incident in April 2005 involving then 8-month-old Ashley Kuntz.

“When I picked Ashley up from Ms. Rawlings’ house that afternoon, I didn’t even recognize her at first sight,” Lauri Kuntz said Tuesday in court.

She said her daughter was pale and nearly lifeless and had lost consciousness while in Rawlings’ care. Ashley was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, then later transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital where she stayed for one week.

Doctors there said the child had suffered head trauma “not once, but twice” and had signs of shaken baby syndrome. They told the Kuntzes her injuries were similar to that of a child ejected from a car in an automobile accident.

This photo of then 8-month-old ashley kuntz was Taken in March 2005, just weeks before doctors said she suffered head trauma and had signs of shaken baby syndrome. Day-care provider Maryanna Rawlings received probation for aggravated child endangerment Tuesday.

“No parent ever wants to be faced with this situation,” Lauri Kuntz told the judge. “Parents should not have to worry about their children when they are leaving them with someone who they thought would protect their child as if it were their own.”

Ashley, who is now a rambunctious 2-year-old, appears to have recovered from her injuries, although she’ll have to return to Children’s Mercy for the next few years so doctors can monitor her development.

Doctors have said that Ashley has an increased risk of developing learning disabilities because of the trauma she suffered.

“Ms. Rawlings should not be allowed to not suffer any consequences for the neglect of our child,” Lauri Kuntz told the judge.

Murphy said he could not impose any prison time under Kansas sentencing guidelines. He did sentence Rawlings to the “aggravated” underlying sentence of seven months – meaning if she fails to comply with the terms of her probation, she would be ordered to spend seven months in prison, instead of the standard six.

“There’s a loophole in the system,” Shane Kuntz said following the sentencing. “If she would’ve died, we’d be talking about life in prison.”

Rawlings said nothing at the hearing. She has never said what happened to Ashley that day while in her care. Rawlings voluntarily surrendered her day-care license in the summer of 2005.