A Milwaukee mother will spend 18 months on probation instead of going straight to jail after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of child neglect tied to the discovery of her six children locked inside a storage unit last fall. As part of the sentence handed down Thursday, the court also ordered a mental health evaluation and parenting classes and stayed an 18 month jail term, keeping her under supervision rather than in immediate custody, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Judge Imposes Probation, Stays Jail Time
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Ana M. Berrios-Schroeder delivered the sentence in a courtroom hearing, telling the parties that the case called for close supervision paired with treatment. The judge set an 18 month probation term, kept an 18 month jail sentence on hold, and added requirements for evaluations and classes, according to reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Plea Deal And The Charges She Faced
The children's mother, Azyia Zielinski, entered a guilty plea in January to two misdemeanor counts of neglect after reaching a deal with prosecutors. In exchange, four felony counts were dismissed but were still read in for sentencing, meaning the judge could consider them without imposing additional convictions, as outlined by CBS58.
How Officers Discovered The Children
On Sept. 16, 2025, Milwaukee police were sent to the StorSafe facility at 5555 North 27th Street after a 911 caller reported a crying baby. Firefighters cut through a padlock on one of the units and found six children inside, ages 2 months to 9 years, sleeping in a space with no running water or electricity and an orange bucket serving as a toilet. Those details come from the criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County and published as a public document by Spectrum News.
Father Convicted, Sentencing Set
The children's father, 33 year old Charles Dupriest, went to trial earlier this year and was found guilty by a jury on multiple child neglect counts and a felon in possession of a firearm charge. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2026, according to local coverage from FOX6.
Parents' Testimony And Courtroom Clash
At Dupriest's trial, Zielinski testified that the family had been evicted from a shelter and said their focus was on keeping the children warm, telling jurors, "we just wanted them to be warm," according to CBS58. Prosecutors countered that the case centered on parental responsibility rather than poverty alone, a framing described in coverage from WISN.
What The Sentence Means Going Forward
Court records show the dismissed felony counts were read in at sentencing, and the judge crafted a sentence that keeps Zielinski under probation supervision with treatment and monitoring conditions. Those terms are intended to keep the children in a more stable, closely watched environment, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Broader Questions About Homelessness And Child Safety
News coverage and court filings indicate the family used local shelter services in 2023 and again in mid 2025, a pattern that advocates say highlights gaps in shelter capacity and long term support for families. Reporting by WISN notes renewed calls for more intensive services aimed at households with multiple children.
