A New Jersey mom who admitted tying up, beating and starving her eight-year-old daughter is now seeking to withdraw her guilty plea to first-degree kidnapping.
Plesi Nichols of Trenton was due to be sentenced Friday, but that was put on hold and a hearing was scheduled for this summer to consider her request. Nichols had pleaded guilty last June and was facing an 18-year state prison term.
Nichols' boyfriend at the time, Anthony Roberson of Trenton, had also pleaded guilty to kidnapping in the case and was facing a 16-year sentence. But he did not show up for his sentencing on Friday.
Mercer County authorities say the girl suffered severe lacerations from being tied to a banister and doorknob in the South Logan Avenue home. They also say she was beaten, and the house where she and Nichols' three other young children lived contained feces, rotting food, roaches and rats.
The conditions in the home were discovered in May 2011 by sheriff's detectives who went to the house to take Nichols to family court. The children were not home at the time, but were there when authorities returned to the home.
Roberson and Nichols were initially indicted on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, child endangerment and weapons offenses. Each has blamed the other for the abuse.
If Nichols' request to withdraw her plea is approved, she will stand trial in the matter. But it's not yet clear what charges she would face if that occurs.
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