Battle Creek Mother Sentenced For Abuse Denied Plea Withdrawal

A Battle Creek woman who was sentenced to prison for child abuse made an attempt to withdraw her guilty plea on Monday.

The Battle Creek Enquirer says 23-year-old Meghan Schug had entered the guilty plea earlier this year to first-degree child abuse, following her arrest. She came to police attention when she brought her son, 4-year-old Maloyd Gaines, to the hospital in critical condition. Prosecutors say Schug and her boyfriend, 35-year-old Isaac Miller, beat Maloyd repeatedly and would lock him in a closet for an extended period with his own waste.

Schug was sentenced to between 25 and 50 years in prison earlier this year, and Miller was sentenced to up to 10 years.

Schug attempted to withdraw her guilty plea in Calhoun County Court on Monday, with her defense arguing that most of the abuse was carried out by Miller, and that the evidence didn't support a first-degree child abuse charge.

However, the judge disagreed with this determination, and denied Schug's motion.