HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 29-year-old Hutchinson man’s desire to get a low appeal bond to avoid having to serve 60 days as part of his community corrections didn’t work out so well.
Brent Burton was before Judge Tim Chambers over the request for an appeal bond to avoid being sent to jail Wednesday afternoon. District Attorney Keith Schroeder agreed to jointly recommend a $3,000 bond, which was double the original bond in the case. Judge Chambers didn’t agree with the recommendation and set an appeal bond of $50,000.
Burton was sentenced to three years in prison, but then granted three years community corrections with the 60 days in the Reno County Correctional Facility as part of the corrections.
The case involved two children, ages five and two and half. 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 the family home. Burton apparently woke up and couldn’t find the kids, 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 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.
So, Burton began serving the 60 days as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.