Man sentenced for ‘cowardly’assault on child

A toddler who was assaulted by his stepfather last year had “significant” bruises and lacerations on his head, mouth and buttocks, as well as bruises on his back, feet and legs, a judge was told Friday in Lethbridge provincial court.

And although the 32-year-old man who beat the boy didn’t have any parenting skills and was beat himself as a child, that’s no excuse, the judge said.

“This child clearly suffered pain and emotional trauma,” Judge Paul Pharo said moments before sentencing the man to nearly three years in jail.

“His conduct cannot be excused because he has little or no parenting skills.”

The man, who can't be named under a court-ordered publication ban to protect the identity of the three-year-old child, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of assault causing bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Giles suggested while the man may have thought he was correcting the boy’s behaviour, the injuries inflicted go above and beyond anything that could be considered corrective. He said the attack on the child was “as cowardly as it comes,” and warrants a significant jail sentence. Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan said his client, who was co-accused with the boy’s mother, takes responsibility for all of the child’s injuries and is extremely remorseful.

“He, himself, was smacked around (as a child) and also received corporal punishment,” Guinan said.

Police, with the help of Child and Family Services, conducted a welfare check last September and noticed the boy had injuries to his face and neck. An examination at the Chinook Regional Hospital revealed additional injuries, and although the child’s mother said he had fallen, medical staff determined the injuries were not consistent with a fall.

The mother faces charges of assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life in connection with the incident. She may resolve her charges, as well, but her case has been adjourned a number of times pending the outcome of Friday’s sentencing. The mother returns to court May. 4.

Although sentenced to 33 months in jail, the man was given credit for the equivalent of 275 days spent in custody, leaving him with just under two years to serve. He must also submit a sample of his DNA for the National DNA Databank. A charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life was withdrawn.