A Warren County woman pleaded no contest in Circuit Court Friday to charges of felony child abuse.

Kristen Elizabeth Walter, 26, 7094 Oak Ridge Road, wept and spoke almost inaudibly to Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick in pleading “nolo contendere” to charges that she caused injuries to her then-three-week old infant July 5, 2009.

The plea means “you will not contest the facts,” Patrick told her. “You understand that it means you will accept what the state has said they can prove against you?”

Walter’s reply was inaudible, and a microphone was placed near her so the court reporter could record her answers. Guilty and no contest pleas require the judge to ask defendants a series of questions to make sure they understand what rights they are relinquishing, such as the right to a jury trial.

After the questioning, Patrick set a sentencing hearing for Dec. 3, with sentencing to follow Dec. 10.

Walter faces 20 years to life in prison and as much as a $10,000 fine.

The baby girl, now 17 months old, has no lasting problems from the abuse, District Attorney Ricky Smith said. She is being cared for by family members, he said.

Walter was arrested shortly after bringing the baby to the emergency room at River Region Medical Center.

The baby had a broken left arm, broken left leg, a skull fracture and other bruising, Smith told the court.

River Region doctors notified the Warren County Sheriff’s office of the baby’s injuries, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services took custody of the baby.

Walter initially told doctors she was holding the baby when she tripped over a threshold in her home and fell, landing on the infant, but doctors found the baby’s injuries could not have been happened with a fall, said Smith.

The baby was transferred to the Children’s Justice Center at University Medical Center in Jackson, where Dr. Scott Benton, a forensic expert in child abuse, determined that the arm and leg fractures were “spiral fractures,” likely caused by twisting, Smith said.

It is not known how the skull fracture occurred, he said.

Walter has been held in the Warren County Jail on a $100,000 bond since her arrest.

Her attorney is John Bullard.