Oklahoma judge sentences woman to 35 years in prison for role in child abuse

Elsa Solis, 30, stood by while her military husband severely beat the child, the judge said.

“You knew, you were present and you still don't take responsibility,” Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong told Solis, who pleaded guilty in September to a charge of enabling child abuse.

The judge considered sentencing Solis to probation, but changed her mind after considering court transcripts and an interview in which her 6-year-old son told detectives his mother watched as Gabriel Solis punched the 1-year-old repeatedly.

Elsa Solis testified Friday that she didn't recall ever seeing her then-husband abuse the boy.

“You called your son a liar,” Truong said. “You don't deserve to be a mother.”

Man's court date set

Gabriel Solis, 31, of Del City, also appeared before Truong on Friday and attempted to withdraw the Alford plea he entered in September for a child abuse charge.

Under an Alford plea, a defendant accepts a sentence for a crime while still asserting innocence. The former Tinker Air Force Base airman admitted in court papers that sufficient evidence exists for a jury to convict him.

When Truong asked Gabriel Solis whether he was attempting to withdraw his plea because he was told the length of his ex-wife's sentence, he said “no.”

The judge then asked defense attorney Jason Lowe whether he told Gabriel Solis about the woman's sentence. The attorney said “yes.”

Lowe withdrew as his attorney, citing a conflict of interest. The judge will appoint a public defender to represent Gabriel Solis and set a Dec. 7 court date to consider the motion to withdraw his plea.

Gabriel Solis, who was fired in September by the Air Force, faces up to life in prison if Truong rejects the motion and decides to sentence him.