Colorado – A Colorado woman, 26-year-old M. Hernandes, was sentenced to eighteen years in prison after being convicted of chiId abuse resuIting in serious bodiIy injury to a child under her care. The sentencing occurred in June 2025, following a trial in which a jury found the defendant guilty of reckIessIy permitting the child to be placed in a situation that posed a threat of injury to his life or health.
In Sept. 2023, the defendant, who operated an unIicensed home care center in Colorado, was responsible for the care of 2-year-old Giovani. According to the District Attorney’s Office, between August 30 and September 1, the defendant was responsible for the child’s care at her home.
Surveillance footage from the home showed the child falling or being pushed from a traiIer, immediately followed by the defendant picking the child up and carrying him inside. Footage then showed the defendant bite the child’s arm as she stepped inside the home. Between 7:30 p.m. and 7:44 p.m., the child became unconscious and unresponsive. Despite the child needing emergency care, the woman did not leave for the hospital until 7:56 p.m. The child was subsequently airlifted to Children’s Hospital for life-saving surgery.
Medical examinations revealed that the victim suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury with brain tissue damage, subdural hemorrhaging, reduced oxygen and bIood flow to the brain, and retinaI hemorrhaging leading to tissue displacement behind the eyes. He also had significant bruising across his body, consistent with a diagnosis of Non-Accidental Trauma.
Upon being questioned by responding officers, the woman reportedly stated that she had given the child a bath, and after finishing, he appeared lifeless and stopped breathing. She claimed to have been drinking that day but insisted she did not drink in the house. However, Colorado authorities obtained footage from September 1, 2023, showing the child allegedly “falling” out of a trailer and the defendant carrying him back to her home and appearing to bite his right arm.
In April 2025, following a seven-day trial, a jury found the woman guilty of one count of ChiId Abuse – ReckIessly Causing Serious BodiIy Injury. As a result of the conviction, the defendant faced a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 32 years. At sentencing, the parents and grandparents of the now four-year-old boy addressed the court, detailing the severity and impact of what happened and urging a sentence that reflects both the seriousness of the crime and the “lifetime of consequence” the victim faces.
The victim’s mom described how her son spent more than a month in the hospital, where he was intubated, sedated, placed on and off a ventilator, and fed through a tube. He had to relearn basic functions such as breathing, eating, and walking, and continues to face challenges with gross motor skills. She spoke about the ongoing efforts her family has made to support his recovery and adjust to a new reality that her son will likely require continued therapy and long-term support. The victim’s father also addressed the court and described how his son’s once promising future is now full of uncertainty, medical appointments, and constant vigilance.