Yakima mom pleads guilty to abusing, withholding food from twin 8-year-old, emaciated daughters

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — A Yakima woman pleaded guilty Thursday to abusing her 8-year-old twins who were emaciated when relatives rescued them from the home.


The Yakima Herald-Republic reports (http://is.gd/tBi3nu ) 28-year-old Kai Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts each of third-degree child assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment. She admitted to withholding food and other basic needs.

Under the plea agreement, Martinez faces a 10-year prison sentence.

Her lawyer, Scott Bruns, wants her sent to a prison-based drug treatment program, which could reduce her time in prison.

Court papers say the girls told police they'd been abused, starved and locked in a bedroom before cousins rescued them Feb. 6.

Police say the twins weighed less than 44 pounds each when they were rescued. According to a police affidavit, a doctor said the girls should have weighed twice as much as they did.

The girls are now being cared for by an aunt.