The mother of 2-year-old Gilbert Grant II has pleaded no contest to the child abuse charges she is facing following his death.
27-year-old Rena Santiago made her plea in front of Judge Mark Rohrer in the Manitowoc Courthouse yesterday afternoon.
A no-contest plea means that the defendant will not contest the charges but is also not admitting any guilt. In the eyes of a judge, a no-contest plea is virtually the same as a guilty plea.
Santiago is facing six charges including Repeated Physical Abuse of a Child Causing Bodily Harm and Causing Death, Chronic Neglect of a Child, Prostitution, as well as Possession of THC and Drug Paraphernalia as a Party to a Crime.
District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre recommended a sentence of 20 years in state prison, to be followed by 10 years of extended supervision. Santiago will be sentenced on May 26th.
