ST. GEORGE, Utah — Utah mother and YouTube star Ruby Franke's business partner Jodi Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse, second-degree felonies, during her court appearance in St. George Wednesday.
Hildebrandt appeared in court before Judge John Walton at 11 a.m.
Right away, a written plea agreement signed by Hildebrandt was acknowledged by the judge.
VIDEO: Watch the complete Jodi Hildebrandt hearing
Hildebrandt pleaded guilty to four of six counts against her. All counts were second-degree felonies of aggravated child abuse.
She simply replied "guilty" to all counts as the judge read them aloud.
Hildebrandt's plea is the same as her co-defendant Ruby Franke, who appeared before the court on December 18.
Both women agreed to serve a prison sentence as part of their plea deals.
VIDEO: Watch the complete Ruby Franke hearing
Since her and Franke’s arrests back in August, the "8 Passengers" case has shocked the nation.
“It really captivated the country, hasn’t it?” said attorney Tyler Ayres.
Ayres is not connected with the case, but shared his criminal defense expertise and reaction with FOX 13 News.
“The things I read about Ruby Franke’s children…deplorable. Absolutely deplorable,” he said.
He said Wednesday’s plea agreement means the true crime junkies so enthralled by the case won’t get the deep-dive trial they were hoping for.
“They will not get the great courtroom display. They’re also not going to get a bunch of ‘gotcha’ questions answered,” Ayres said.
He said the decision to plead guilty is a smart move by Hildebrant. It gives her the opportunity to find experts to vouch for her in hopes of a smaller sentencing.
“At this point, she has capped her damages,” Ayres explained.
It also helps the children, who won’t have to go through the rigorous court process and relive the trauma.
“By doing this today, she has said 'Their pain real, I have some responsibility for it, let’s move forward,'” he said.
Hildebrandt's sentencing is set for February 20, which happens to be the same day as Franke’s.
Additionally, as part of her plea deal, Franke agreed to testify against Hildebrandt.
Franke will serve all four sentences consecutively, with each count bringing the possibility of prison time between 1 and 15 years.
In a statement Friday, Franke's attorneys appeared to place blame on Hildebrandt, claiming Franke is a "devoted mother" who was taken advantage of by a person she trusted.
Hildebrandt and Franke were business partners, previously collaborating on parenting advice videos for "ConneXions."
Franke's lawyers said in a statement that Hildebrant "systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke. This prolonged isolation resulted in Ms. Franke being subjected to a distorted sense of morality, shaped by Ms. Hildebrandt’s influence."
Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested in August after one of Franke's children escaped Hildebrandt's home knocked on the door of a neighbor in Ivins and asked for food and water. The neighbor noticed duct tape on the child's ankles and wrists and called police, according to court documents.
Police later found one of Franke's daughters emaciated inside Hildebrandt's home.
Franke will be sentenced on February 20 and will serve all four sentences consecutively, with each count bringing the possibility of prison time between 1 and 15 years.
