Santa Maria woman’s torture trial starts next week
November 30, 2012
A Santa Maria woman who allegedly punished her then 2-year-old daughter for playing with her makeup by holding the child’s hands in scalding tap water almost three years ago is scheduled to begin trial next week. [SantaMariaTimes]
Lorena Arenas, 26, has been charged with torture, felony child abuse causing great bodily injury and child endangerment.
The child’s father, Jose Gonzalez of Santa Maria, was home at the time of the incident and had refused to drive his daughter to the hospital. He entered a no-contest plea in early 2011 to a count of felony child abuse and was sentenced to four years in state prison.
Arenas admitted the toddler cried for at least 11 hours straight, at the conclusion of which she walked with her daughter several miles to Marian Medical Center.
The child’s third-degree burns were so traumatic she was taken to Sherman Oaks Hospital burn center for specialized treatment.
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