Dad sentenced to 6 years for scalding 29-day-old son (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Of course dad DAJOUR D. JACKSON was home alone with his 29-day-old son when he literally scalded the baby, presumably while giving him a bath. For a while, the baby was in critical condition from the burns over nearly 20 percent of his body. Daddy claims he has no feeling in his hands, etc. etc., so it really wasn't his fault, see. But notice this isn't the first time he's abused a baby either.

http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110104/NEWS/101040334

Man sentenced to 6 years for scalding infant son

By Ellie Bogue
of The News-Sentinel

A man was sentenced in Allen County Superior Court on Monday to six years for felony child neglect in the scalding of his 29-day-old son.

According to 21-year-old Dajour D. Jackson's probable-cause affidavit, around 9:41 p.m. March 10, Fort Wayne Police were called to the Lutheran Hospital emergency room, where they were told an infant had been brought in with burns on his body and was to be taken to the St. Joseph Hospital Burn Unit.

According to the affidavit, Jackson said he was home alone with the child when the incident occurred. At first he told police he had given the child a bath using hot water and a washcloth and then later admitted to bathing him in the sink with the tap on.

He told police he had not realized how hot the water was because he has no feeling in his hands.

Jackson told hospital personnel he estimated giving the bath one hour before bringing the child to the hospital. Jackson also told them he had contacted Parkview Hospital and been told to put cold cream on the child.

He later said he had contacted Parkview and they told him to put baby powder on the child. He then wrapped him in a wet towel. When the child's mother returned home she looked at the baby and they took him to the emergency room.

According to the probable-cause affidavit, the child was initially assessed to have burns over 30 percent of his body; a later assessment determined it to be 18 percent. His condition was critical when he was brought in and then upgraded to serious.

During the sentencing Monday, Jackson's past record was cited as an aggravating circumstance by the prosecution.

In 2008 he battered a 9-month-old. It was noted that Jackson had no feeling in one hand because he punched a wall when he was younger.

Jackson had been in foster care at age 2. He eventually lived in 13 foster homes, and his father was in prison.

Breeanna Hout, the infant's mother, testified that Jackson was a loving father, and although she did not witness the incident, she felt sure the burns were an accident.

The state submitted pictures of the boy's burns to Judge John F. Surbeck Jr. When Jackson was shown the photos, he wept and turned his face away.

Surbeck gave Jackson six years for the Class C felony, with four to be served behind bars and two suspended, and two years to be served on probation.

In addition to being employed full time or doing volunteer work and having psychiatric evaluation and treatment, Surbeck added to the terms.

Two of the five added terms forbid Jackson from working in any organization with a child under age 18, and also specified he must have no contact with children under age 18.