A Las Cruces woman accused of locking up her 8-year-old niece with developmental disabilities in a wooden cage, then leaving her alone while she headed out to watch a movie, has pleaded guilty.
Cindy Patriarchias pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of felony child abuse. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop four related charges against the 33-year-old.
Police say Patriarchias and her boyfriend Edmond Gonzales took her three children to an elementary school in January to watch the movie. Patriarchias' estranged husband called police when he arrived at the school and learned that the 8-year-old girl was unattended at the mobile home.
A teary-eyed Patriachias told 3rd Judicial District Judge Fernando Macias in Las Cruces the incident was "the biggest and worst mistake of my life."
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
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