A San Antonio mother accused of putting her infant son in his crib instead of seeking medical attention after he drowned was sentenced to 12 years Wednesday.
Police said Mickey Bess put her 9-month old son in his baby bed after he drowned in a kiddie pool and never called 911.
Investigators said she went to SeaWorld the next day with baby Michael Sanchez dead in his crib.
Michael drowned and was wrapped in a blanket as if he still alive on October 5, 2013. His grandmother made the discovery of her grandson's body the following day.
A month later police arrested Mickey Bess on a charge of injury to a child by omission. An arrest warrant said she thought her baby would just wake up. He did not.
In court Wednesday, Bess testified before Judge Melisa Skinner she found her son in water and initially couldn't let him go.
Bess said she took her other to kids to SeaWorld with her and that being a mother was and is her number one priority.
A KENS 5 I-Team investigation found the 30-year-old was the focus of two CPS investigations which had not stripped her of her children. She has two other children who are no longer in her custody.
Bess reached a plea agreement with the Bexar County DA's office. KENS 5 does know she tried to get probation in this case and failed.
Wednesday she presented numerous certificates to the judge showing she had completed a number of family courses, domestic abuse, alcohol-drug abuse and anger management. She also said she wants her children back and will do whatever it takes to get them.
Judge Skinner denied application for deferred adjudication, denied probation and sentenced her to 12 years in prison.
Her baby's grandfather addressed Bess after the sentencing saying Bess took the baby away from them and hope she thinks about him every day and every night.
Michael's father, Michael Sanchez, Sr., told Bess the experience has been hard on his family.
"I hope you realize what you've done and that's why you're going where you're going," Sanchez, Sr. said.
