BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Marilla man will spend 10 to 20 years in jail after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of a two-year-old.

Devon VanDerWege, 18, accepted a plea deal in Erie County Court Monday for the death of Ethan Bigham almost a year ago.

VanDerWege was babysitting Ethan on March 10 when the little boy suffered injuries related to blunt-force trauma. The toddler was eventually taken to what was Women and Children's Hospital and died. 

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said he offered VanDerWege a plea deal so justice would be served.  Flynn wasn't sure a jury would convict him on the second-degree murder charge. Despite his confession, there was no physical evidence linking VanDerWege to the child's injuries.  

Flynn says that left him with two concerns: there was someone else in the trailer on March 10 when Ethan Bigham suffered from the injuries that caused his death, and the child's mother didn't immediately take him to the hospital after seeing the bruises. 

VanDerWege's mother, Nicole, says even though her son took the plea deal, she will never stop searching for the person who did this to Ethan. She's vowing to get justice for both children and says she does not believe this is something her son would be capable of doing. 

VanDerWege is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9.