A 28-year-old Ohio mother will spend nearly three decades behind bars after she handcuffed her 6-year-old son’s hands and feet, then watched as a pit bull brutally mauled him — all while she “bragged” and shared the ordeal on Snapchat.
On Monday, Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge Dave Stimpert sentenced Angelina Williams to the maximum term of 28 1/2 years in state prison for her role in the horrific abuse and near-fatal attack on her child.
Related posts
Williams had earlier pleaded guilty to multiple charges of kidnapping and child endangerment.
Two others also face charges linked to the incident. Last week, Robert Michalski Jr., the owner of both the pit bull and the house where the mauling occurred, was found guilty of two counts of complicity to commit child endangerment and one count of tampering with evidence.
Meanwhile, Taylor Marvin-Brown — described by prosecutors as Williams’ boyfriend — pleaded guilty in April to obstructing justice and three counts of complicity in kidnapping and child endangerment. Both Michalski and Marvin-Brown are scheduled for sentencing later this month.
During Monday’s hearing, defense attorney Jennifer Harmon told the court she had seen “a marked difference” in Williams, saying her client had finally realized the gravity of her actions and accepted responsibility.
Williams also gave a prepared statement, tearfully admitting that the trauma she caused would likely haunt her children forever and that she could never forgive herself.
Despite her guilty plea, prosecutors insisted the cruelty of the crime demanded the sentences be served consecutively.
Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metcalf emphasized the brief context of the children’s stay — just two weeks with a mother who didn’t even have legal custody. During that short time, he said, the children were abused for something as trivial as refusing to clean up dog feces.
“Handcuffed at their ankles; handcuffed at their wrists,” he said. “It’s unfathomable… I think it’s probably the worst form of the offense you could have.”
Metcalf said Williams was the most active participant and even Snapchatted photos of her children tied up.
“That’s the worst,” he added. “That’s an understanding of, ‘not only am I doing this, but I’m kind of proud of it.’”
Judge Stimpert strongly sided with the prosecution, using the hearing to harshly criticize Williams’ actions.
“Damian was handcuffed and the pit bull used him as a chew toy and the adults made up a story to cover their butts,” Stimpert said. “Except calling him a chew toy is putting it lightly. That dog tried to rip out his throat.”
He described the boy’s injuries in grim detail, recalling the bruising around his eyes and throat, the deep wounds on his neck, and the disturbing photographs shown in court.
Stimpert told Williams that, as a mother, it was her duty to protect her children — not abuse them.
“I don’t know any mother that would think handcuffing a child’s hands and feet is a good idea, period,” he said. “Yet not only did you do it, you did it multiple times and shared photos of it — essentially bragging about it.”
He added that, for the first time in his long judicial career, he watched seasoned officers struggle to testify through tears.
The incident traces back to August 17, 2024, when authorities responded to a report of a dog attack at Michalski’s home in Savannah, Ohio.
According to prosecutors, both children were repeatedly restrained with handcuffs and other devices. On the day in question, while the boy was restrained, he was savagely attacked by a pit bull, suffering severe injuries to his neck and ear.
Emergency responders determined the boy needed to be airlifted to a hospital. His sister, who also suffered abuse, has since recovered, and both children are now in the care of a legal guardian who ensures their safety and wellbeing.
Deputies found Williams and Marvin-Brown at the scene. Michalski, however, had fled and was later found hiding in an upstairs crawl space with the dog, which has since been deemed “vicious” and confiscated.
Following a detailed investigation, authorities concluded the trio had not only restrained the boy but had deliberately sicced the dog on him, subjecting both children to extended and brutal abuse.
Prosecutors said their actions created a substantial risk of physical harm and were a grotesque form of “corporal punishment” inflicted over time.
