Dad pleads guilty to child abuse; burned infant son with vacuum cleaner (Aberdeen, South Dakota)

Dad JOHN KRAHL has pleaded guilty to child abuse in a pretty strange case: Dad was apparently holding a vacuum cleaner over his infant son's play pen because he wanted to "scare him" (at least that's what the prosecutors say), and he caused a burn on the baby's thigh in the process. What kind of idiot holds a vacuum cleaner over a child's play pen for any reason?

http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=87027

07/09/2009 11:11 AM

Aberdeen Man Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse

An Aberdeen man has pleaded guilty to a child abuse charge in a case involving a vacuum cleaner. Thirty-three-year-old John Krahl was accused of holding a running vacuum over a playpen that held his infant son, causing a friction burn on the baby's thigh. Prosecutors said he was trying to scare the child; he disputed that.

Krahl was given credit for 89 days he served in jail, fined $750 and ordered to spend two years on probation. The incident will not go on his record if he follows the terms of his probation.

Krahl also is allowed to have contact with his son under guidelines set by the state Department of Social Services.