Woman gets 14 years for torturing grandson

By MIMI JUNG / KING 5 News

TACOMA, Wash. – A Puyallup woman continues to deny she ever laid a hand on her grandson, even at her sentencing Friday for torturing the child.

Loni Venegas was found guilty of abusing the boy, who is now 13-years old.

"I realize that, like, how I was treated there wasn't really how normal kids are treated," said the boy, who KING 5 News is not identifying.

The boy moved in with his grandparents after his mother died in a car accident, only to endure years of abuse at the hands of Venegas.

"The tragedy didn't end there because he was placed into a family where he suffered horrific and unimaginable abuse that is detailed throughout this trial," said –

The boy testified Venegas punched him, choked him and used forks to hurt him. The case was made more egregious because the Department of Social and Health Services admitted it didn't investigate claims of abuse.

At her sentencing, Venegas' loved ones asked for leniency.

"And I don't understand what's happening right now because she did nothing wrong to anyone. She's a wonderful mother," said Jasmine Venegas, Loni's daughter.

Venegas herself claimed her innocence.

"I did nothing wrong and I love him like my own, she said.

But the judge ended up giving her the maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

The boy's grandfather, Remil Venegas, is also charged in the case and is scheduled to go on trial next week.