Mother sentenced to 13 years in prison for death of son

Thirteen years in state prison.

That’s the punishment handed down by a jury to a mother convicted in connection with the death of her 2-month-old baby boy.

According to police 21-year-old Lindsey Hradek’s son was found dead strapped to a car seat, upside down, covered with pillows.

Police say Hradek and the baby’s father were high on cocaine the night of the boy’s death.

Before the sentence was handed down, Hradek came out to the courtroom in shackles crying.

It took the jury 3 1/2 hours to decide what her punishment would be.

When the 13-year prison sentence was announced, Hradek and her mother both started crying uncontrollably.

Hradek was allowed to say good-bye to her mother and father. Her parents comforted her while they wiped away her tears.

During its closing arguments, the defense asked the jury to have mercy arguing Hradek has been sober three years and has a 19-month-old child to raise.

The jury recommended probation a far-cry from what she actually got.

The victim’s father, 27-year-old Bobby Soto decided not to fight the charges in court. He pleaded guilty to a more serious charge of injury to a child with intent.

Soto was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Hradek decided to fight the charges in court and was given five more years in prison than Soto despite being convicted on a lesser charge

Hradek was charged with reckless injury to a child.