She was allowed to remain free on bail by Common Pleas Judge Steven R. Geroff pending sentencing on July 27.
Freeman was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering the young victim, Anthony Williams. She faces up to 71/2to 15 years in prison.
Defense lawyer Joel S. Moldovsky, who praised his client's devotion to the children in her care, called the verdict "poppycock."
He said Freeman feels that the decision will be a "curse" on all who operate day-care centers or have foster children.
"We predict that there is going to be a tremendous slump in the number of people available to take these at-risk children, these crack babies, these foundlings," said Moldovsky.
It was Freeman's fourth time in court. Her first trial ended in a mistrial in December 1997.
In April 1998, a jury at a second trial acquitted her of third-degree murder, but deadlocked 11-1, in favor of conviction on the involuntary manslaughter and endangerment charges.
In December 1988, Freeman pleaded no contest to those charges but later withdrew the pleas when she felt she was going to be jailed.
Assistant District Attorney Yvonne Ruiz said Freeman, of Haines Street near Sprague, shook Anthony so violently on Feb. 28, 1997, he lost consciousness and died two days later.
Moldovsky and his lawyer son, Ari, argued that Anthony, a special needs child who suffered from sickle-cell anemia, struck his head after falling from a toilet while having a seizure.
They said Freeman was attending to another foster child in a room about 10 feet away.
"The jury didn't believe this happened from a fall," said Ruiz. "It is clear from the evidence that she shook this child for whatever reason."
After leaving the Criminal Justice Center, Freeman broke down trying to make a statement to the media.
"All we can say is God help anybody who can't watch their child for 24 hours," sobbed Freeman, who couldn't get any more out.
