HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A Reno County Jury found a 29-year-old Hutchinson man guilty as charged by the state.
Brent Burton is now convicted of two counts of abuse of a child and two counts of aggravated endangerment of a child, this involving two children, ages five and two and half. However, he’ll only be sentenced on the abuse counts, because the two aggravated endangerment counts were alternate counts to the abuse charges.
The jury apparently agreed with the state that abuse occurred back on May 3, 2014, Burton was left in charge of the kids while the mother was away. He apparently fell asleep and the two kids left the home and were across the street in a park near a busy city street. Burton apparently woke up and couldn’t find the kids. He then went looking for them and after finding them in the park apparently punished them to the point, that the state alleges abuse. The children had bruising mainly on their buttocks, but also on the boys arm which showed where Burton had grabbed him. The jury agreed with the states allegations that Burton extended inhuman and corporal punishment on the two kids.
In closing arguments, the defense contended that he was doing his job as a parent. “Letting them run around would be wrong.” said Defense Attorney Bonnie Corrado. She says her client had fallen asleep after working an all night shift. She says when he found the kids were gone, he was panicked and after finding them, he spanked them and sent them to their room.
She also told the jury that the state didn’t have any doctor testify or and expert witness testimony over the bruising. She says she doesn’t believe the state proved their case.
But, District Attorney Keith Schroeder argued to the jury that they don’t need a doctor to know if its abuse. He told them to look at the pictures and use their common sense. He believes they did prove the case.
With the guilty verdict, Judge Tim Chambers set sentencing for September 11.