News Photo by Temi Fadayomi Defendant Adrienne Pavelka reads her prepared statement in Alcona County’s 23rd Circuit Court on Tuesday. Pavelka was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison for first-degree child abuse.

HARRISVILLE — The mother of a toddler, who was killed from child abuse, is going to prison for a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years.

Adrienne Pavelka was originally charged by Alcona County Prosecutor Tom Weichel with one count of homicide-felony murder and two counts of child abuse in the first degree for acts against her two-year-old Jayde McDonnell.

She reached a plea deal in June that reduced her charges and she took the stand to testify against her former boyfriend Aaron Trout earlier this year.

Pavelka pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree child abuse of her two-year-old daughter Jayde McDonnell, who was murdered by Trout.

Trout, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse on Jan. 17, faces 55 to 90 years for the murder charge and 30 to 60 years for the child abuse charge, which are to be served concurrently.

Before receiving her sentence, Pavelka gave a plea to the judge before the court and 23th Circuit Court Judge Laura Frawley.

During her plea to the judge, Pavelka apologizes to friends, family, and her daughter, Jayde McDonnell.

“Want to start by saying that I am sorry,” Pavelka said. “Although it feels pointless because no matter how many apologies I issue out it will never bring Jayde back. I wish that there was more I could say to accurately convey how I feel but I can say it a million times, a million ways, it’ll still never be good enough.”

Frawely sentenced Pavelka to 15 to 40 years with credit for 565 days which was consistent with the recommendation of the prosecution.

Frawley stated that while she believes that Pavelka is genuinely remorseful for the role she played in her daughter’s death and that she was in a very difficult situation, it doesn’t change her culpability in what happened to McDonnell.

“I do believe that you’re genuinely remorseful because of the loss of Jayde,” Frawley said. “But, it doesn’t change anything, Jayde McDonnell is still gone.”

Frawley states that she hopes that Pavelka can walk away from her time in prison as a better person and is able to go on to live a good life.

“You will have a life after this,” Frawley said to Pavelka. “I hope you make it a good one.”