Mom of boy dropped into cheetah pit pleads no contest

CLEVELAND – A woman who dropped her toddler son into a Cleveland zoo's cheetah pit and was charged with child endangering has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge.

Delaware, Ohio, resident Michelle Schwab was charged after authorities said she dangled her 2-year-old son over the railing of the zoo's cheetah exhibit last month. The boy lunged from her grasp and fell about 10 feet.

Schwab and her husband jumped into the exhibit to retrieve the boy, who broke his leg in the fall.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo officials say the cheetahs didn't approach the boy or his parents.

Schwab pleaded no contest to aggravated trespassing on Wednesday. She's scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Her attorney hasn't returned telephone calls seeking comment.