By Associated Press - Thursday, May 21, 2015

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A Yakima woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing her 8-year-old twins. The girls were found emaciated when they were rescued from the home.

The Yakima Herald-Republic says (https://is.gd/8f1J1S) 29-year-old Kai Martinez was sentenced Wednesday in Yakima County Superior Court.

Her lawyer had hoped she would spend half that time in a drug treatment program, but the judge sided with prosecutors in giving her 10 years in prison.



Martinez pleaded guilty in April to two counts each of third-degree child assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment. She admitted to withholding food and other basic needs.

Court papers say the girls told police they’d been abused, starved and locked in a bedroom before cousins rescued them Feb. 6.

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Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, https://www.yakimaherald.com

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