Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2226: May 9, 2014
SANTA ANA – A mother was convicted and sentenced today for abusing her 4-year-old daughter by depriving her of food and medical care, causing the child to be severely under-weight at only 18 pounds. Antonia Benitez, 36, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to the court to three felony counts of child abuse with sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury to a child under 5. She was sentenced to a court offer to two years in jail, three years of formal probation, and one year participation in a child abuser program. The People advocated for a state prison sentence.
At the time of the crime, the defendant was a mother to nine children ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old. Continue reading