Woman convicted of child abuse that resulted in 4-month-old son's death sentenced to 8 years

GREELEY, Colo. – A Greeley woman convicted in March of child abuse that resulted in the death of her 4-month-old son was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday – just half the number of years she faced.

Angelica Chavez, 30, was convicted March 10 of one count of child abuse resulting in death for the 2015 death of her young son, Donovan.

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office said the boy’s grandmother had been taking care of the boy in the week before his death, but Chavez allegedly knew putting him in his grandmother’s care could have caused him harm.

The infant had broken ribs, chemical burns to his face and mouth, sepsis and bruising. Family members called 911 seven hours after initially discovering the boy’s condition, but the boy died at a Denver hospital.

“Donovan died because his mother failed him,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Whitney argued during today’s sentencing hearing. “The defendant was only one of three people in the entire world who could have saved him, and she chose to do nothing until it was too late. This innocent, helpless child lost his life, in part, because of her inactions and for doing nothing as a mother.”

Chavez faced 16 years in prison but received only eight, followed by five years of parole.

The boy’s father, Nathan Archuleta, and grandmother, Sandy Archuleta still have cases pending relating the abuse.

Sandy pleaded not guilty in the case on Thursday and will face trial starting Sept. 25. Nathan Archuleta is set to be arraigned May 3.