The judge gave a long prison sentence to a mother who deliberately put her kids at risk to fund her dr*gs addiction. She sold her children to predators in exchange for dr*gs and money. The prosecutor labeled it as a willful act instead of putting it on her long-term addiction or calling it a failure to act. The defendant walked into the court hoping for mercy and a shorter sentence, but the judge looked through her actions and how they impacted the victim.
The attorney tried to argue in court and told the judge the mother is not an evil person and is accused of “not doing the right things,” instead of doing the wrong things. He explained she was introduced to dr*gs at a young age, and we cannot understand what she was going through, so she did things to feed the addiction that was controlling her.
He added, “And the problem, your honor, is that having never been a dr*g addict, I think it’s hard for me to understand it. And I think anyone who’s never been a drug addict understands the power and the control that hard dr*gs have over someone’s life.”He asked for decent punishments and rehabilitation to break the addiction.
The judge listened and then asked the mother if she wanted to give a statement. The mother was crying and apologized to her children. She stated, “I know it’s a lot of work in recovery, but with the right support, I know I can and will do it. I’m 37 with a college degree and have never been in trouble before this. I can promise I will never get in trouble again, as I have learned my lesson. I’ve already lost everything due to my addiction and the choices I’ve made, including my children, my family, and my career.”
The prosecutor fired back, “Not that she failed to protect them, she put them in situations to be around those se— predators. She indicated she did that because she was getting money, vehicles, whatever she needed to feed her dr*g habit. That’s not a failure to act; that’s a willful act to put your child in those situations.”
She asked the judge to sentence her to 12 and 1/2 to 40 years. Another revelation in the courtroom was the impact of the mother’s drug addiction on the victim and her father. Since she sold her to the predator and was s– assaulted, the victim’s father murdered two people and almost murdered the defendant. He was given a life sentence without a chance of parole.
After listening to the defendant’s attorney, prosecutor, and victim’s impact statement, the judge sentenced her to serve a period of 12.5 years to 40 years with the Michigan Department of Corrections for child abuse. She had already served 543 days. There’s a crime victim assessment fee in the amount of $130.
The judge also spoke to the victim and told her, “You can’t pick your parents. When you’re a child, you can’t choose who your parents are. You can’t choose most of the things that happen to you, but you can choose the future you will have, and you’re sitting there with some wonderful people who will help you do that. I wish you the best of luck. Thank you.”
Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.
