Dad's trial set in baseball bat attack on son (Redding, California)

Seems dad GEOFFREY SCOTT KELLY will finally be going to trial on attempted murder charges in January 2012. We've posted on this case before. Daddy "allegedly" attacked his son while he was asleep, and though the boy survived, he now has brain injuries and paralysis.

http://www.redding.com/news/2011/sep/16/redding-fathers-trial-set-in-bat-attack-on-son/

Redding father's trial set in bat attack on son; plea deal still being considered
By Jim Schultz
Record Searchlight
Posted September 16, 2011 at 12:07 a.m.

A Redding man charged with attempted murder for allegedly hitting his young son over the head with a baseball bat was given a Jan. 18 trial date on Thursday as he continues to consider a plea offer.

Geoffrey Scott Kelly, 53, is facing a maximum sentence of 13 years to life in prison if convicted of the charges against him, Redding defense attorney Adam Ryan said after Kelly's appearance in Shasta County Superior Court. Ryan incorrectly said last week that Kelly was facing a 21-year-to-life prison sentence.

Ryan, who's "optimistic" that a settlement can be reached, said he also erred last week when he said a plea deal offered to Kelly requires a 15-year-to-life sentence.

That offer is seven years to life, he said.

"It's still dismal," he said adding that only 1 percent of those who receive life sentences get paroled.

Ryan is seeking a 15-year sentence for his client, he said.

Curtis Woods, Shasta County deputy district attorney, said after court that Ryan has sought the 15-year sentence since settlement negotiations began and that he and his office are not interested in that offer.

"No, or we would have settled this case a long time ago," he said.

He believes the seven-years-to-life offer is a reasonable one, despite Ryan's misgivings that his client may never get paroled should he take it, Woods said.

"(Kelly) could get out sooner" under the DA's offer than the one sought by Ryan, he said.

Kelly, who was arrested Jan. 5, is charged with attempted murder, child abuse and a series of special enhancements, including one claiming that he caused the boy great bodily injury including brain damage and paralysis.

Kelly, who has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial, reportedly admitted to police he "lost it" and hit his 8-year-old son with an aluminum baseball bat while he was sleeping.

The boy, now 9, is no longer hospitalized and continues to improve, but it could be up to a year before the full effects of his injuries are known, Woods has said