ST. PAUL  — A Twin Cities area man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally beating his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter.

Thirty-six-year-old Leb Meak had earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Genesis Xiong. Meak admitted to squeezing the toddler with both hands, fracturing her ribs and as well as causing other injuries to her head, abdomen and liver at his Maplewood home.

Meak was dating the child’s mother, Lia Pearson, who is also charged in the death of her daughter. According to a press release, Pearson will go to trial next month for child endangerment and manslaughter.