Dad pleads guilty to killing 15-month-old son (Bloomington, Illinois)

Dad GEORGE AUTMAN has pleaded guilty to killing his 15-month-old son. Dad was "caring for" the boy and his 3-year-old sister at the time of the "incident." Get this: Dad assaulted the boy to discipline him for hitting his sister. Yea, great teaching moment, Dad.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_38039ec2-8828-11de-bdbe-001cc4c03286.html

Bloomington man pleads guilty to killing young son

By Edith Brady-Lunny eblunny@pantagraph.com Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009 11:40 am

BLOOMINGTON -- A 22-year-old Bloomington man pleaded guilty Thursday to killing his 15-month-old son in May 2008.

George Autman's plea agreement calls for a prison term ranging from 20 to 45 years when he is sentenced Nov. 3 for the murder of Antwan Liddell. Two additional murder counts were dismissed as part of the plea deal reached with prosecutors.

Autman told Judge Robert Freitag that he understood and agreed with the plea.

Autman, of the 400 block of Fox Hill Circle, was caring for his son and 3-year-old daughter May 27, 2008, when the boy sustained serious injuries to his head, according to a statement read in court by Assistant State's Attorney Jane Foster.

Rescue and police units responded to a report that the child was choking, said Foster. Emergency room doctors questioned Autman's story that the child was eating a sandwich when he fell and began choking, she said.

Autman later told police he struck the boy to discipline him for hitting his sister, according to the prosecutor's statement. "He was trying to teach his kids not to fight with each other," Foster said Autman told authorities.

The partially negotiated plea agreement calls for a maximum sentence of 45 years. Without the plea, Autman is eligible for 20 to 60 years. He must serve 100 percent of his sentence.

Defense attorneys Carla Harvey and Brian McEldowney are allowed to request a sentence less than 45 years, according to the agreement.

Autman's $1 million bond that required him to post $100,000 to be released was revoked after he entered the guilty plea.