Man gets 26 years for scalding child in bath water

A man who scarred a toddler by putting him in scalding bath water was sentenced to 26 years in prison, Harris County prosecutors said Thursday.

Chester Mosley, 24, was charged with serious bodily injury to a child after pleading guilty in the January 2017 incident, which was investigated by Houston police.

The scalding water left the 23month-old boy with permanent scarring, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Mosley also stomped on the child, which left bruises on his stomach and a liver laceration.

Mosley was caring for the toddler while his girlfriend — the child’s mother — was at work. The mother called 911 when she learned of his injuries.

According to court records, Mosley told police he had made plans with other women while his girlfriend was at work, so he was frustrated when the child had a dirty diaper and needed to be cleaned up. Mosley said the child was standing behind him when he knocked the child over and stepped on him. While the child cried, Mosley said, he placed him in the scalding bath. Mosley told police he didn’t believe the water was hot at the time.

According to court records, Mosley called the mother at work to tell her the child had fallen and scraped his arm. Later, he told her the child had some burns.

Mosley “had no mercy for this kid, who for the rest of his life can look at his scars and be reminded of what was done to him,” said assistant district attorney Allen Otto. “You should never be able to get away with doing this to a child.”