NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- The family of a 3-year-old Henry County girl who police said was beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend is upset the man is now being offered a plea deal.

Jeremiah Hoots, 31, was originally charged with felony battery in the December 2007 death of the daughter of his then-girlfriend, Krystal Pollitt, 3-year-old Kaitlynne Jennings.

He could have faced 50 years in prison if convicted on that charge. But earlier this week, Hoots was offered a plea deal of 12 years in prison with six suspended, two years suspended on probation and one of those years on home detention, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

"Until after the hearing, I don't want to make any comment about the plea agreement and how it was arrived at," said Henry County Deputy Prosecutor Jim Millikan in a statement.

Hoots told investigators that the girl was hurt while wresting with her brothers, but an autopsy showed that she suffered two skull fractures, bleeding in the brain and a broken neck.

The girl's mother, who was charged with felony neglect of a dependent in the death, and her family want the judge to reject the plea deal.

"I was appalled. I never, ever thought he would be offered a plea bargain like that," Pollitt said.

"We would love to see it go to trial," said Karol Messer, Kaitlynne's grandmother. "We're going to fight for her. We're going to fight for her until the end."

Hoots' guilty plea hearing is set for Nov. 24.