Dad who burned, threatened son gets suspended sentence (Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada)

Another coddled UNNAMED DAD. Not only did this guy deliberately inflict 1st-degree burns on his son's arm with a straight iron, he threatened to do the same to the boy's face. But not to worry about Daddy. You see, Dad's own mom died and all and he was kind of bummed about that, so he'll get a basic free pass--counseling and 12 months of probation. Such a deal.

And what about that Mom in Ohio who got five years in prison for trying to send her daughters to a decent school again?

http://www.markdalestandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2963611

Man who burnt son gets suspended sentence
By Scott Dunn
Posted 1 hour ago

OWEN SOUND

A man who punished his son by burning his forearm with a straight iron and verbally threatening serious bodily harm avoided jail because the judge accepted that circumstances and his rehabilitative efforts justified it.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to assault and uttering threats of bodily harm and received a suspended sentence in the Ontario Court of Justice.

The 38-year-old man, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban imposed to protect the identity of his teenaged son, found a hairstyling iron left powered on by his son last Nov. 10 at home, Crown attorney Michael Martin said.

The father, with iron in hand, confronted the teen, touched it to the boy's forearm and warned if he did it again he'd do the same to his face, Martin said.

The boy screamed in pain, and the man's wife took the boy to hospital, where he was treated and released for a first-degree burn, Martin said.

Police and children's welfare officials got involved, though the Children's Aid Society has no ongoing concerns about allowing the father to return home, provided he continues with counselling, Martin said.

The man, who lives in Grey County, was suffering a "major personality shift" since the death of his mother, Martin said. After a discussion with police, the father recognized he had to deal with this, the Crown attorney said.

A doctor examined and released the man and letters were produced for Justice Julia Morneau, outlining how the father and family have been receiving help.

Duty counsel for the father, Mary McCormick, said he is being seen by a psychiatrist and is receiving counselling through a program at work and through the Canadian Mental Health Association. McCormick noted both the man's wife and son support him.

Martin's office initially deemed jail time was warranted to denounce the conduct. But Martin said he was persuaded a suspended sentence recommendation was justified.

Martin noted the man's acceptance of responsibility, his supportive family, lack of criminal record and efforts through counselling to address what prompted his behaviour.

Justice Morneau noted the man's son is "extremely forgiving," as is his wife. Morneau admitted the sentence is "on the extreme low end for this conduct."

During 12 months' probation he must have no contact with his wife and child unless they consent, and he must attend counselling. Morneau also banned him from possessing firearms for five years and ordered him to submit a DNA sample.