Dad who "squeezed" 4-week-old son gets 40 years in prison (Jefferson County, Texas)

Dad JASON LEBLANC assaulted his infant son when the baby was only 4-weeks old.

http://www.kfdm.com/articles/judge-43297-sentencing-son.html

Father who squeezed son's head sentenced to 40 yearsJune 13, 2011 8:00 AM

Lindsey Kovacevich

JEFFERSON COUNTY (UPDATE)- A sobbing mother watched Judge John Stevens sentence her estranged husband to 40 years in prison for injuries that robbed their son of his vision and could leave him with life-long medical problems.

In February, Jason LeBlanc admitted to Port Arthur Police that he was angered by his son's crying. He squeezed four week old Charlie's head and chest for several minutes. Charlie is now five months old.

Doctors found 26 injuries on the boy including bleeding to the brain, a cut liver and 14 fractured ribs.

"Something has to be done...if we don't make a stand no one else will. He went through more pain at 28 days old then we'll ever go through in our lives," says Charlie's Great Aunt Misty Janeaux.

Family members stood outside the Jefferson County Courthouse with signs spelling out a young boys injuries for all the world to see. "Everyday is a fight for him and we don't know because he can't talk to us. May not ever talk to us," adds Janeaux.

Injuries Charlie LeBlanc suffered at the hands of his own father. Charlie's family handed out blue ribbons to people passing by. They stand for child abuse awareness.

Inside, Charlie's mother Chelsee walked to court awaiting the sentencing of her estranged husband. "Jason's not living this life trying to take care of my baby. He doesn't have to deal with this," says Chelsee.

Jason LeBlanc's attorney says his client understands what he has done. LeBlanc wishes he could take it back. "He's terribly remorseful about this. This was his child. Really in a fit of anger he overreacted. And obviously a parent can't treat young child with strong arms. Can't do that and he knows it. He's terribly sorry about it."

Chelsee LeBlanc doesn't buy it. "I don't think he feels remorse for what he's done honestly." That's all the young mother could say after breaking into tears. Tears of anger at her husband, tears of pain for little Charlie.

No one knows if Charlie will ever walk or talk. His mother has to live with that uncertainty each and every day. But can find some comfort in the knowledge her son's father will spend a long time behind bars for robbing his son of a chance at a normal life.

Charlie is blind and suffers seizures. Doctors won't know the full impact of his injuries until he gets older.

Jason LeBlanc was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating probation for aggravated assault. That sentence will run at the same time as the 40 year sentence.