One chapter in Aiden Waller's life came to a close in an Effingham County courtroom Wednesday morning.

His mother, Tina Richards, pled guilty to charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to children stemming from a January incident that led to Aiden, then less than a year old, being airlifted to Savannah's Memorial University Medical Center.

Richards and the baby's father, Phillp Waller, pled not guilty in April. But Richards, who was on probation, was given a 20-year sentence for violating that probation. Her total sentence was for 21 years.

Her sentence Wednesday morning, reached in a deal between the public defender's office and the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney's office, would keep Richards in prison for a total of 31 years. She has been in the Metro State Prison, where she gave birth to a second son back in February, since her sentencing for the probation revocation.

Richards stood before Judge Gates Peed in a green Effingham County Jail women's uniform and began to break down as Judge Peed asked if she was guilty. She answered, "Yes, sir."

Her sentence for Wednesday's guilty plea includes a 20 years to be served concurrently with the original sentence and an additional 20 years that includes 10 years of probation.

For more, see Friday's Effingham Herald.