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Summary A US woman who glued her daughters hands to a wall was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
A woman who beat her 2-year-old daughter and glued the toddlers hands to a wall was sentenced Friday to 99 years in prison by a judge who described his decision as a necessary punishment for a brutal, shocking attack.Elizabeth Escalona did not immediately react as Judge Larry Mitchell pronounced the sentence at the end of a five-day hearing. Prosecutor Eren Price, who originally offered Escalona a plea deal for 45 years, had argued that she now thought the 23-year-old mother deserved life.Mitchell said his decision came down to one thing.On Sept. 7, 2011, you savagely beat your child to the edge of death, Mitchell said. For this you must be punished.The beating left Jocelyn Cedillo in a coma for a couple of days.Escalonas other children told authorities their mother attacked Jocelyn due to potty training problems. Police say she kicked her daughter in the stomach, beat her with a milk jug, then stuck her hands to an apartment wall with an adhesive commonly known as Super Glue.Jocelyn suffered bleeding in her brain, a fractured rib, multiple bruises and bite marks, a doctor testified. Some skin had been torn off her hands, where doctors also found glue residue and white paint chips from the apartment wall.Jocelyn has since recovered and is now being cared for by her grandmother, Ofelia Escalona, who is taking care of her daughters four other children, including a baby born this year.Escalona pleaded guilty in July to one count of felony injury to a child.Price said Escalona would be eligible to apply for parole in 30 years.The prosecutor repeatedly sought to portray Escalona as a liar, a monster and an unfit mother. She forced Escalona Thursday to look at enlarged photos of the bruises her attack left on Jocelyn.Price argued Friday that if a stranger had beaten Jocelyn the same way, no one would hesitate to give that person life in prison. Escalona had mishandled a beautiful gift of a daughter and failed to recognize what she had done, Price argued.The 45-year recommendation was for somebody who was going to take ownership of what she did, appreciate what she caused, Price said.Sending her to prison for decades would protect her childrens future, Price argued.
