"Babysitting" dad with history of domestic violence sentenced to 4 years in prison for injuring 7-week-old daughter (Urbana, Illinois)

Dads with histories of domestic violence and violations of protection orders are not safe around children either. Period. End of discussion. And we need to stop thinking they are. Certainly dad MASON HERGES was not safe around his 7-week-old daughter, who was extensively bruised while Daddy was babysitting.

"Now he's working his way down to children," says the Judge. You got that right, pal. And notice how useless Daddy's previous participation in "partner abuse counseling" was too. We just need to jail these guys. If they can't see the light, make them feel the heat.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/courts-police-and-fire/2010-09-25/father-sentenced-4-years-prison-injuring-baby.html

Father sentenced to 4 years in prison for injuring baby
Sat, 09/25/2010 - 7:00am Mary Schenk

URBANA – A Champaign man who admitted injuring his own infant daughter has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis imposed the sentence Friday on Mason Herges, 31, whose last known address was in the 300 block of West Green Street in Champaign.

"Given this man's history of violent crimes and that he's been through partner abuse counseling twice, he's dangerous," said Difanis.

Herges pleaded guilty in early August to aggravated battery to a child, admitting that on Feb. 20 he grabbed his then 7-week-old daughter by the ankles and jerked her out of a playpen. He was caring for her while the child's mother was out.

The child had bruising to her feet, chest and inside of her mouth, Champaign police detective Mark Strzesak testified, that a doctor said was not consistent with any of the explanations Herges gave before ultimately admitting he grabbed her in that manner. He never offered an explanation for the bruises inside her mouth, Strzesak said. The injuries were not permanent but required the child to be hospitalized overnight.

Herges' mother, sister, and a woman with whom he has two children from an earlier relationship, all testified that they couldn't believe the allegations of child abuse and said Herges had always treated his older sons appropriately. All called his treatment of the infant "out of character."

"His character is to beat up adult women," Difanis said, referring to Herges' prior convictions for domestic battery and violation of an order of protection. "Now he's worked his way down to children."