A Lancaster woman will serve up to 16 years in prison for burning and beating a toddler – making video recordings of some of the abuse.

Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright called the acts of 20-year-old Kamika Bowman “as terrible as anything I’ve seen” during a career on the bench.

The abuse included the girl being bound and gagged while being beaten, according to testimony. Bowman also inflicted third-degree burns on the 2-year-old girl’s face and body, allowing the girl to suffer for days before seeking medical treatment.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield provided Judge Wright with a disc that includes photos of the injuries and a video recording Bowman made of one of the beatings (and sent to a relative).

“She’s laughing about it - you can see it,” ADA Mansfield said of Bowman. “She’s torturing this child. It’s clear she never cared about this child.

“Only a monster could do these things.”

Judge Wright jailed Bowman for 7 to 16 years, saying that anyone who questions the need for long-term incarceration need only see the contents of the video to grasp the seriousness of the crimes involved.

The disc is an exhibit in the case, but is sealed from public inspection due to the graphic contents and age of the victim.

Judge Wright said the disc will be viewable to any appellate court that hears a post-conviction motion – should any be filed.

Bowman previously pleaded guilty and no contest to felony counts of aggravated assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and related charges.

Bowman is a relative of the victim. The girl was placed under Bowman’s care because the mother was working a lot and could not provide stable housing at the time.

The child, now with her mother, was nearly dead by the time she received medical treatment in January 2019, according to testimony.

“What she did to this kid is unimaginable and despicable,” ADA Mansfield said of Bowman. The extent of the child’s injuries is not yet known.

After burning the child, Bowman “looked up how to treat burns,” ADA Mansfield said. Bowman kept the child’s parents from seeing her at that point. When Bowman took the child along shopping, the child was covered in blankets to conceal her injuries.

In court Tuesday, Bowman apologized for a “huge mistake.”

She cited drug and alcohol abuse, saying she has not been sober since age 13.

Judge Wright questioned Bowman’s remorse, saying she pleaded no contest to certain charges even though there is video evidence of the crimes.

Bowman has “deflected, denied” responsibility, Judge Wright said.

Lancaster city police Detective Ryan Hockley, the lead investigator who filed charges, was in court for the sentencing hearing.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright