HAGERSTOWN, MD.—The uncle of a 9-year-old boy fatally beaten over a missing piece of birthday cake pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse Tuesday, acknowledging he handcuffed the child to a chair and allowed the mother’s controlling boyfriend to pummel him senseless. Barajas called 911 but the boy’s mother sent the ambulance away, delaying treatment for hours. The maximum penalty is 25 years, but prosecutors agreed to a lesser sentence and dropped six other charges, including second-degree murder, in the plea deal. Barajas may be called to testify against the boy’s mother, Oriana Garcia, 27, at her trial in February, Deputy State’s Attorney Joseph Michael said. Garcia’s boyfriend, Robert Wilson, 31, is serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty in March to second-degree murder in the July 2015 death of Jack Garcia.

Source: thestar September 13, 2016 18:56 UTC