AUBURN - A 62-year-old day care provider reasserted in Cayuga County Court Tuesday that she unintentionally shook and injured an infant left in her care in August 2008.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Gloria Odrzywolski leaves a courtroom Tuesday afternoon after being sentenced for the August 2008 shaking of an infant child in her care. Odrzywolski, who pleaded guilty to reckless felony assault last month, was sentenced to 90 days of weekends in jail, five years' probation and 120 hours of community service.
Gloria Odrzywolski leaves a courtroom Tuesday afternoon after being sentenced for the August 2008 shaking of an infant child in her care. Odrzywolski, who pleaded guilty to reckless felony assault last month, was sentenced to 90 days of weekends in jail, five years' probation and 120 hours of community service.
Moments before sentencing, Gloria Odrzywolski, of 7 Anna St., Auburn, reaffirmed she accidentally injured the infant by bouncing the girl up and down on her shoulder and knee in an attempt to comfort her.
Odrzywolski will serve three months of weekends in the county jail with five years of probation and will not be allowed to work as a day care provider in any fashion.
Odrzywolski pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to reckless felony assault for her actions.
Given the nature of the injuries, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Odrzywolski did more than bounce the infant, who suffered internal injuries to her brain and eyes consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
“I take offense to bouncing,” Budelmann said. “This is not bouncing baby syndrome, this is shaken baby syndrome.”
Budelmann said he believed Odrzywolski, who was operating as an unlicensed day care provider at the time of the incident, was overwhelmed by the number of children she was watching.
Evidence showed Odrzywolski was watching three infants, two toddlers and three school-age children, exceeding the limits established by state guidelines for licensed providers, Budelmann said.
When given a chance to address the court, the victim's parents detailed their experience at the hospital as they were questioned by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and social services.
The victim's mother also said she and her husband were not allowed to be alone with any of their children until the investigation determined they were not suspects.
The parents added that it is still too early to determine how the injuries will affect their child as she grows older.
The mother also criticized Odrzywolski for not accepting full responsibility for injuring her child.
While the victim's family and friends wrote letters asking for a straight jail or prison sentence, visiting Monroe County Judge Joseph Valentino said he took the case's evidence, Odrzywolski's lack of a prior conviction and intent into consideration when agreeing to the plea deal.
“I'm a father and grandfather so the pain did not escape me when I was determining what this sentence will be,” Valentino said.
Odrzywolski will serve three months of weekends in the county jail with five years of probation and will not be allowed to work as a day care provider in any fashion.
Odrzywolski pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to reckless felony assault for her actions.
Given the nature of the injuries, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Odrzywolski did more than bounce the infant, who suffered internal injuries to her brain and eyes consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
“I take offense to bouncing,” Budelmann said. “This is not bouncing baby syndrome, this is shaken baby syndrome.”
Budelmann said he believed Odrzywolski, who was operating as an unlicensed day care provider at the time of the incident, was overwhelmed by the number of children she was watching.
Evidence showed Odrzywolski was watching three infants, two toddlers and three school-age children, exceeding the limits established by state guidelines for licensed providers, Budelmann said.
When given a chance to address the court, the victim's parents detailed their experience at the hospital as they were questioned by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and social services.
The victim's mother also said she and her husband were not allowed to be alone with any of their children until the investigation determined they were not suspects.
The parents added that it is still too early to determine how the injuries will affect their child as she grows older.
The mother also criticized Odrzywolski for not accepting full responsibility for injuring her child.
While the victim's family and friends wrote letters asking for a straight jail or prison sentence, visiting Monroe County Judge Joseph Valentino said he took the case's evidence, Odrzywolski's lack of a prior conviction and intent into consideration when agreeing to the plea deal.
“I'm a father and grandfather so the pain did not escape me when I was determining what this sentence will be,” Valentino said.
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 14 comment(s)
All4JUSTICE wrote on Oct 14, 2009 9:12 PM:
All4JUSTICE wrote on Oct 14, 2009 9:00 PM:
daydreamer wrote on Oct 14, 2009 6:58 PM:
letsbereal wrote on Oct 14, 2009 6:16 PM:
letsbereal wrote on Oct 14, 2009 2:20 PM:
letsbereal wrote on Oct 14, 2009 1:53 PM:
letsbereal wrote on Oct 14, 2009 1:37 PM:
littledove wrote on Oct 14, 2009 10:58 AM:
All4JUSTICE wrote on Oct 14, 2009 9:28 AM:
cm wrote on Oct 14, 2009 8:46 AM:
3 infants, and 2 toddlers with a 62 yr old ALL DAY LONG?
any SANE person would know its way too much to take on at that age!
ALSO what if she had a heart-attack and children were there uncared for hours until a parent showed up?
I know parents want/need to take the 'cheap' way out for daycare...
but cheap puts your child in danger!
the parents should get weekends too in jail, for leaving their child with someone unlicensed, too many kids to watch for one person---child neglect! "
rmg13021 wrote on Oct 14, 2009 8:07 AM:
letsbereal wrote on Oct 14, 2009 8:04 AM:
DR Boombatz wrote on Oct 14, 2009 7:42 AM:
I ask you which is worse shaken a child and causing what could be irreperable brain damage or molesting a child and scaring for life?? "
daydreamer wrote on Oct 14, 2009 7:10 AM: