A Cedar Rapids mother has been sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple child endangerment charges related to the abuse of her 3-year-old son. The child suffered severe injuries from repeated beatings over the course of a year.
On Friday, Sixth Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns described J’Juanna Williams’ actions as “horrendous” but acknowledged her history of childhood abuse and mental illness. However, he emphasized that no circumstance justified the harm she inflicted upon her son.
Williams, 26, pleaded guilty to eight counts of child endangerment. In addition to her 3-year-old son, her 5-year-old daughter was also found to have been abused, according to court records.
Prosecutors revealed that the 3-year-old sustained spinal fractures, a brain bleed, and trauma-induced cataracts that will lead to eventual blindness. Cedar Rapids police discovered the toddler unresponsive in a hotel room on October 22, 2023. Doctors concluded that the child had been repeatedly beaten with a cord-like object, with injuries that matched the “medical definition of torture.”
During the court hearing, Williams apologized, stating that there was “no excuse” for her actions. She was sentenced to a term with no mandatory minimum before becoming eligible for parole.
