Burton
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 29-year-old Hutchinson man found guilty as charged by the state for two counts of abuse of a child and two counts of aggravated endangerment of a child is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.
Brent Burton was convicted of the crimes 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 abuse occurred back on May 3, 2014, when 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 alleged abuse and the jury agreed. The children had bruising, mainly on their buttocks, but also on the boy’s arm, which showed where Burton had grabbed him. The jury agreed with the state’s allegations that Burton extended inhuman and corporal punishment on the two kids.
Sentencing is scheduled in front of Judge Tim Chambers.