TERRE HAUTE, Ind.  – The Indiana Court of Appeals has denied an appeal of the prison sentence of Hubert Kraemer.

He had previously pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent in connection to the death of nine-year-old Cameron Hoopingarner. Investigators said he weighed less than 15 pounds when he died in 20-17.

Kraemer was sentenced to 12 years in an Indiana prison with four of those would be on formal probation.

He said that his sentence was inappropriate for the crime and his character but the judge said he failed to make his case.