Judge says Toledo mom can't withdraw abuse plea

6/29/2007

Accused of throwing her baby across a floor and screaming, "I hope [she's] dead," a Toledo mother decided yesterday that she was, after all, going to fight the charges against her.

It was too late. Toledo Municipal Court Judge Michael Goulding instead locked her up.

Jowanna Madrid, 22, of 28 West Streicher St. pleaded no contest June 6 to misdemeanor charges of child endangering, resisting arrest, and obstructing official business.

She was arrested shortly after 11 a.m. May 19 at her home. As police placed her into a patrol car, she screamed and cursed at them. She also told them she hoped the baby's legs and ribs were broken, police said.

"She's my kid. I will do whatever I want to her," a sergeant quoted her as saying.

But appearing yesterday with a public defender, Ms. Madrid said she was railroaded into entering the plea and asked to withdraw it.

Her attorney, she said, "did all the talking. He didn't hear what I had to say."

Judge Goulding was not impressed. "You were represented by counsel. You were advised of the consequences of entering into a plea," he said, noting that Lucas County Children Services has been involved with the case.

He then ordered Ms. Madrid to the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, Stryker, for 180 days and placed her on probation for five years. He will review the sentence July 31.