Sunrise Man Re-sentenced To 9 Years For Beating Girlfriend's Child
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- A Surnise man who was a teenager when he admitted to repeatedly hitting his girlfriend's crying toddler with his knee was re-sentenced Friday in a Broward County courtroom.
A technical error led to him having to be sentenced a second time.
Joshua Albarracin was sentenced to nine years in prison for severely beating the 23-month-old toddler. Albarracin said he's learned from his mistakes.
I'm sorry for the pain I caused the family. I wish I could put into words how I feel," said Albarracin.
The toddler's maternal grandfather told the court, the girl still suffers physically and emotionally.
"As far as night terrors waking up and screaming. She has a scar from her breast to vagina. She was in a coma for nine days. She has a scar not going away," said Joe Vitale.
The judge changed nothing about the original sentence. Albarracin's family was deeply disappointed
"We are sick. As a family, We look out for each other we hurt for the victim and our son. But we know Joshua was put in a position he could not handle," said Steve Schimmel, Joshua's grandfather.
Albarracin has 30 days to appeal. "We'll look at our options and decide at that time," said Jeff Harris, a defense attorney.