A Hesperia couple has been convicted in a child abuse and poisoning case involving an 8-year-old boy. - Denise Leann Althoff, 27, and Elias Heinrich Dickson, 38, pleaded no contest to attempted murder, poisoning, and child cruelty.
- They admitted to inflicting great bodily injury and mingling harmful substances with food or drink. - Four torture counts and one false imprisonment count were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
- The boy was hospitalized with extensive injuries, leading to an investigation by the Sheriff's Crimes Against Children Detail. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31 at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse.