A New Mexico woman pleaded guilty Monday to locking her 8-year-old niece with developmental disabilities in a wooden cage and leaving her alone while she left to watch a movie.
Cindy Patriarchias, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony child abuse, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop four related charges.
A teary-eyed Patriarchias told 3rd Judicial District Judge Fernando Macias in Las Cruces that the incident was "the biggest and worst mistake of my life."
She faces a maximum of six years in prison, but her attorney asked for a deferred sentence. Prosecutors are seeking some prison time. Her sentencing has been scheduled for March.
