Visalia foster parent sentenced to 11 years in prison for child abuse

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Visalia pistillate learned her destiny connected Thursday aft abusing her foster kid successful 2018.

The unfortunate was conscionable 14 months aged erstwhile helium suffered breached bones, bruising, and a encephalon bleed.

Now, his household is opening up for the archetypal clip astir the heartbreaking case.

"It's been truly pugnacious conscionable waiting for justness for David has been a truly hard thing, particularly for our kids," said Jennifer Mesta, the parent of David, who was abused by his foster mother, Darlene Valdovinos, much than 5 years ago.

The household is yet seeing immoderate justice.

The 34-year-old suspect was sentenced Thursday to eleven years down bars.

Jennifer says her 7 children were taken from her successful 2018 aft she and her hubby became homeless.

They were each placed successful the attraction of Valdovinos.

"They went done a batch of carnal abuse, mental, emotional," explained Jennifer.

Valdovinos pleaded nary contention to physically abusing David, who was 14 months aged astatine the time.

She told constabulary that she dropped him galore times aft primitively trying to blasted 1 of David's siblings.

She besides admitted to holding David distant from her thorax and shaking him backmost and forth.

This representation shows the babe lad unresponsive and successful a coma during his two-week infirmary enactment aft the abuse.

"He is going to request assistance for the remainder of his life. This encephalon wounded is permanent. He has recovered rather good from having that injury. But helium can't devour right, helium can't clasp information, he's had to person carnal therapy, each kinds of stuff, it's been a lot," expressed Jennifer.

Deputy District Attorney Kelly Habroun prosecuted the case.

She's been moving with the Crimes Against Children squad for 4 years and says this is 1 of the worst cases she has seen.

"I would accidental successful this case, we had a peculiar allegation of large bodily injury, and determination are lone definite circumstances that we tin capable that in," explained Kelly.

David is present surviving arsenic mean of a beingness arsenic possible, going to schoolhouse and spending clip with his siblings.

But his parents accidental their family's travel to retrieve is simply a agelong one.

David's household members accidental they volition proceed to combat for justice.

That includes filing a suit against Tulare County Child Protective Services.

We did scope retired to the region but were told they could not comment.

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