A Manor Township woman was sentenced to four to eight years in state prison after she pleaded guilty earlier this month to beating a 9-year-old girl and telling her to “die,” then trying to conceal her injuries.

Judge David Ashworth sentenced Esmeralda Lugo, of the 100 block of Kloss Drive, after she pleaded guilty on March 13 to charges of aggravated assault and strangulation.

Lugo, 36, hit the child victim multiple times in the face using the back of a brush in her residence in the 100 block of Kloss Drive the evening of Jan. 24, 2024. The assault caused a noticeable injury to the victim’s eye, which Lugo attempted to conceal using multiple techniques including ice, makeup, salt and butter.

Speaking to police, the victim said her injuries were so painful that she was unable to sleep on the bruised side of her face.

Lugo also punched the victim in the back and placed her hands around the victim’s neck as if choking her while repeating the word “die,” the victim told police. The victim told investigators she was unable to breathe for about 10 seconds while Lugo choked her.

A school counselor reported the assault to police after the victim reported it to a staff member two days later. Manor Township Police and Lancaster County Children & Youth removed the victim and an infant sibling from Lugo’s home later the same day.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo prosecuted the case.

Manor Township Police Officer Colleen Tatara filed the charges.