Dad jailed for 90 days for breaking arm of infant son (Sarnia, Ontario, Canada)

Dad SHAYNE COX has been sentenced to 90 measly days in jail for fracturing his infant son's arm. Dad had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and violating THREE orders of protection. Seems that poor Daddy was "frustrated" with a crying and "fussy" baby, so he used "excessive force." Ya think? He broke the baby's arm!

Man, we are so tough on child abusers up here in Ontario! That's showing them! 90 days in jail! Take that, Mr. Cox! He also gets the BS anger management and parent classes. I suppose they will teach you that it's not nice to break a baby's arm? When did you miss this lesson before? Isn't it a little late now?

We hear that Daddy "regrets" becoming a father. I suppose the son (in his own infant way) probably regrets having Cox as a father, too.

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2160186

Teen dad broke baby's arm
COURT: Infant was crying and fussy
Posted By NEIL BOWEN, THE OBSERVER
Posted 4 hours ago


An 18-year-old Sarnia man who fractured his infant son's arm was jailed for 90 days Monday in Sarnia court.

Shayne Cox had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and three court-order violations in March.

Frustrated with his son's crying and fussy behaviour, Cox pulled his arm as he was removing the baby's clothing.

He was helping the child's young mother prepare the child take a calming shower with her.

The mother told Cox not to pull the child's arm, the court was told.

The fracture was discovered during a hospital visit the following day. A medical report stated it was caused by trauma that was beyond the action initially described by Cox.

After he was arrested, a court order required that he have no contact with the child's mother. He violated the order three times by going to her school and calling her.

Assistant Crown attorney R. L. McFalls called for minimum six-month sentence because the child, who was less than a year old, couldn't protect himself.

Cox accepted responsibility for his actions, said defence lawyer Ian Bruce, who requested a 90-day sentence.

Cox had spent the equivalent of two months in jail awaiting resolution of the case.

Five months was the appropriate jail sentence for the assault on one of society's most vulnerable victims, said Justice Deborah Austin.

Cox who was not mature enough for fatherhood caused the fracture by using excessive force due to his frustration, she said.

A victim-impact statement from the child's mother and grandmother stated it was a vicious crime committed by Cox, who had regretted becoming a father.

The jail time was reduced to 90 days by subtracting the two months already served.

Cox was also placed on a year's probation, when he must take anger management and parental counseling.

Any supervised access to the child will be in accordance with family court orders.

nbowen@theobserver.ca