Mother suspected of stabbing 3-year-old son no longer faces attempted murder charges

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A mother suspected of stabbing her 3-year-old son in Cudahy appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court Thursday and now faces assault with a deadly weapon charges.

Michelle Betancourt, 23, agreed to postpone her arraignment. She was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder when her son was stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife.

Authorities responded to the call Monday morning and neighbors said Betancourt was screaming that the stabbing had been an accident. She claimed her son had grabbed the knife and stabbed himself.

But on Thursday, her own attorney, Bruce Karey, admits she stabbed her son and the boy's father in their home.

"There was no intent to harm the child at all," Karey said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators initially recommended attempted murder charges, but prosecutors are now bringing lesser charges: two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

"The facts dictate that it's an assault with a deadly weapon based on what happened and based on the injuries that we have at the current time," Deputy District Attorney Efrain Aceves said.

When Betancourt was arrested Tuesday after detectives questioned her about the incident, she was booked into jail and her bail was set at $1 million. During her court appearance, her bail was reduced to $90,000.

If she is able to post her bail, the judge ordered her to stay at least 100 yards away from her critically-injured son and his uninjured father.

Her attorney said she needs a psychological exam.

"I'm very concerned about her. She's very emotional at this point. She's very fragile," Karey said.