Mom awaits sentence in Dallas abuse case

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DALLAS, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The prosecution rested Tuesday in the sentencing phase of the trial of Elizabeth Escalona, who pleaded guilty in July to torturing her 2-year-old child.

Escalona, 23, of Dallas was arrested in September 2011 after her daughter, Jocelyn Cardillo, was hospitalized and near death with bruises, bite marks, bleeding in the brain, hair torn from her scalp and glue on her hands from being glued to a wall, prosecutors said.

Escalona awaits sentencing in the second day of the punishment phase of the trial in a Dallas County courtroom. Prosecutors presented graphic photographs of the girl, taken at a Dallas hospital, showing her injuries, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Tuesday police officers testified about Escalona's arrest in March, after a fight during her birthday celebration in her apartment complex, and her mother, Ofelia Escalona, testified she posted bond for her daughter in another arrest a month earlier.

In the earlier incident, described in testimony, Elizabeth Escalona was released from jail Feb. 14 and gave birth to her fifth child the following day.

Prosecutor Eren Price asked Ofelia Escalona if she believes her daughter is solely responsible for Jocelyn's injuries. She answered "Yes," but asked State District Judge Larry Mitchell to sentence her daughter to probation.