‘I Know You Are Not A Monster,’ Judge Says Before Sentencing Mom

Almost three years to the day when four-year-old Aaron Benjamin Jr. died from a beating in his home on St. Croix his mother admitted that she did not try to help or protect him. Three months after pleading guilty to child abuse, the mother – Delicia Daniel – was ordered to serve 18 years in prison by a judge in Superior Court on Wednesday. But Judge Harold Willocks said the sentence was appropriate, given the facts of the case.

He also granted a credit of two years, four months and six days for the time already served by the defendant. Willocks said the evidence leading to the child’s death was not the result of a single incident, but a series of violent episodes dished out by boyfriend and former codefendant Kyle Christopher.

Christopher is awaiting trial on charges of murder, assault, child abuse and child neglect. He was arrested, along with Daniel, about a week after Aaron’s death. In a statement given to police shortly after his arrest, Christopher said Daniel also physically abused her son.

“Justice is not about revenge; it is not about retribution, but it is about finding a balance. This court is not swayed about outbursts of grief. It is not swayed by any comments made on talk shows,” Willocks said.