Oceola Woman Gets 10-15 Years for Child Abuse PleaOceola Woman Gets 10-15 Years for Child Abuse Plea

3/22/13 - A Livingston County woman accused of severely abusing her young step-grandson has been sentenced to prison after accepting a plea deal in the case. 36-year-old Sara Rae Walters of Oceola Township pleaded no contest to first-degree child abuse in exchange for prosecutors dismissing a charge of torture involving the toddler. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such during sentencing. Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty sentenced Walters to 10 to 15 years behind bars, with credit for 411 days already served. Authorities say the 3-year-old boy suffered more than 60 different injuries, including blood on the surface of his brain, while in Walters’ care. His core body temperature was also just 88 degrees when he was examined. Walters was taking the child to the hospital on October 21st of 2011 when he stopped breathing. She pulled off US-23 and called 911. Paramedics revived the child and took him to the University of Michigan Hospital, where doctors discovered the injuries. The charges against her came after a three-month investigation. (TD)