DELAWARE (Tom Bosco/Kate Murphy) -- A mother and stepfather admitted in court to hitting their son and failing to get him hospital care in a timely fashion. Michael and Jessica Smith of Galena pleaded guilty in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Tuesday morning, avoiding a trial.

Mr. Smith told the judge he had been taking pills and was "pill sick" at the time he hit the 10 year-old boy. Smith said the boy did something to cause Smith to get angry.

"I don't remember what, but he had been frustrating me," Smith told the judge. "I backhanded him in the stomach."

Jessica Smith said she didn't think much of the injuries at the time.

"(He) was complaining of being gassy for a few days," she said. "I didn't think anything of it, honestly."

When they took the boy to a hospital, he was in critical condition and needed emergency surgery for injuries to his ribs, abdomen and bowel. The child spent his birthday in the hospital.

Michael Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangering. Jessica Smith pleaded to one count of attempted child endangering. He could be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison, while she could serve up to 18 months. Their sentencing is in September.

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