West Allis woman sentenced to prison after boy severely abused previously involved in another brutal crime
WEST ALLIS -- A West Allis woman on Friday, January 8th was sentenced to prison in connection with the extreme physical abuse of a three-year-old boy. Jennifer Garcia was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison, and 28 years extended supervision. Eleven years before Garcia abused the child, she played a part in another brutal crime.
"They were just stomping on my head as if it were a watermelon," Miguel Flores said.
Miguel Flores
It happened in 2003. A gang beating on Milwaukee's south side left Flores with 25 stitches and five staples to his head, a fractured arm, and more.
"There was a lot of pain I suffered. I lost my job. I couldn't function anymore. Now I'm on disability and having some degree of brain damage. I'm going to be like this the rest of my life," Flores said.
The beating came after a foiled armed robbery.
Flores says Garcia was the woman who was holding the gun.
Miguel Flores
Jennifer Garcia
Garcia was sentenced on Friday to serve more than three decades in prison for abusing her then-boyfriend's three-year-old son in 2014, while the child's mother and father were in jail. The boy suffered severe brain trauma, and had cigarette burns on his body.
"Brain injury was so severe that the treatment team of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin did not expect him to survive," said Matthew Torbenson, prosecutor.
"He's getting justice and at the same time, myself," Flores said.
Johnetta Ward, the mother of the injured boy was brought from her jail cell to make a statement at Garcia's sentencing.
"If it was up to me, I'd give her the max," said Ward.
Garcia did not get the maximum sentence of 70 years of initial confinement in prison. But she did get 35 years in prison and 28 years of extended supervision for abusing the boy.
Tremonte
The family of the little boy named Tremonte shared photos of him before and after Garcia abused him.
Tremonte
The boy, who is now five years old, is currently in foster care. In court during Garcia's sentencing, it was revealed he cannot run or sit like a normal child -- and his attention span is almost non-existent. But the child is described as a sweet little boy.
Flores says he feels a bond with the child. He says there were two lives altered forever as a result of Garcia's actions.
"I feel better. I just hope I'm giving positive energy to Tremonte. Like hey, I feel your pain. I hope me telling you this will help heal you," Flores said. "I wanted to say to his foster parents, if they're watching this, this message to you Tremonte: I hope you heal fast. I really do. You are not the only victim, although you got the worst of it because you're just a kid. I hope some higher power heals you and you become a normal kid again. My heart goes out to you."
Garcia was ordered to serve 189 days in jail for her role in the attack of Flores.
Flores says a man involved in the attack was sentenced to 10 years in prison. That person has since been released.