Grandmother Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison

Carmela dela Rosa, from a Tysons Corner walkway in November 2010, received a 35-year prison sentence today.

The sentencing from Circuit Court Judge Bruce White upholds the recommendation from the jury.

White said he considered the nature of dela Rosa's crime, the vulnerability of the victim, 2-year-old Angelyn Ogdoc, and dela Rosa's prior criminal record in his ruling. Since immigrating to the U.S., dela Rosa has only received one traffic violation.

"That a grandmother would do something like this to her grandchild is almost unimaginable," White said.

Commonwealth Attorney Ray Morrogh called the case "one of the worst crimes that has come along in my tenure with this county."

Making a statement for the first time, dela Rosa spoke an apology softly as her voice cracked.

"I'm very sorry," she said to the courtroom.

Defense attorney Dawn Butorac told the court dela Rosa's mental illness has deteriorated since her initial incarceration in December 2010. At this point, she's heavily medicated and "numb," Butorac said. She argued even though the jury rejected testimony that dela Rosa was insane at the time of the crime, her documented history of mental illness was definitley a "contributing factor."

"Jail or prison is not the appropriate place for Mrs. dela Rosa" to receive treatment, Butorac said.

Approximately 30 family members and friends flew from around the world to support dela Rosa in court Friday. Her husband, Leandro dela Rosa, daughter and son-in-law, Kat and James Ogdoc, and her son, David dela Rosa sat behind the prosecution at the sentencing hearing.

Dela Rosa, 51, has 30 days to appeal the sentence ruling.