April 11, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

MOM SENTENCED IN CHILD ABUSE CASE

A mother was sentenced to prison today for her role in allowing her toddler son to be abused by her boyfriend.  2-year-old Mike Elias later died from blunt force trauma at the hands of Jose Torres (DOB: 04-06-82) on February 14, 2004 following weeks of abuse.

Veronica Elias (DOB: 09-26-72) was sentenced to a maximum 8 years in prison for child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.  Elias was charged because she was aware of the injuries and abuse suffered by her son as much as a month before his death but did not seek medical treatment for him and continued to leave the child in Torres’ care. (Torres is currently serving 48 years in prison for child abuse resulting in death.)

Elias spoke to the court at her sentencing hearing but did not take any responsibility for what happened to her son.  Denver District Court Judge Christina Habas then addressed the defendant before giving her the maximum sentence, telling her that as Mike’s mother she had the power to make choices but had made choices that failed her son.

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