Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A St. George, Utah man was recently sentenced to life in prison without parole. Marc Clifton Bryant was convicted of the heinous crime of rape and torture of a 16 year old girl with a screwdriver and a blow torch. What a deviant! Mr. Bryant was convicted and sentenced in absentia. In other words, he did not attend the trial because he had fled the State but was later arrested in the Jacksonville, Florida at a Golden Corral after his crimes and the case was reported on America’s Most Wanted. You can read more about this story at St. George, Utah Rapist Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole. This story was reported at the Salt Lake City (Utah) Tribune website at Rapist Gets Life in Prison Without Parole.
In Alabama, child day care centers have a duty to provide children with a safe physical environment as to prevent personal injuries and wrongful death of children in the day care setting. Pursuant to Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers Regulations and Procedures, State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources, facilities have duties and responsibilities as follows:
Children, special needs adults, and the elderly need proper supervision and assistance especially when they are transported away from their homes and under the care of others. In New York, a special needs 22 year old (Edwin Rivera) was left a bus all night. The 22 year old had cerebral palsy and spent a cold winter’s night on the school bus when his caretaker forgot or did not check to see that Edwin Rivera was still on the bus.
Getting drunk can literally kill a child. In Indianapolis, Indiana, a mother was sentenced to 15 years of prison for suffocating her child. Police reported that Latasha McMorris (age 25) was found lying on top of 2 year old (Sheldon Bartley, Jr.) after she had passed out in a motel room in Indianapolis, Indiana. Officer reported that bottles of gin and vodka were found in the motel room. McMorris’ boyfriend had called 911 about the incident.
Religious cult leader Wayne Bent was sentenced to a prison term for sexual misconduct with a female follower. Bent, who is 67 years old, was sentenced to a maximum term of 18 years. At the sentencing hearing, Bent denied that he committed any wrongdoing and claimed that he did not touch any of the girls sexually. A jury concluded otherwise on this case. Of course, the case of Wayne Bent is not the first case that a religious leader has used his position of trust to molest and sexual abuse a child.
An Ogden, Utah teenager was beaten by three teeangers and two adults. There was little evidence for the criminal and police investigation until the attackers posted a video of the attack on You Tube. A 15 year old student from Mt. Ogden Utah Junior High was the victim of a beating by Alexandra Gutierrez, Paloma Lopez, and three teenagers from Mound Fort Junior High. The victim was kicked, punched and kneed in her face. The fight was encouraged by others. This is far from harmless fun or a mere school yard scuffle. Serious injuries and even death can result from even one punch or blow to the head.
Winter weather brings sub zero temperatures to many parts of the United States including Iowa. In Laurens, Iowa, authorities found a 7 year old walking around in sub zero temperature alone with inadequate clothing. The child was found and put in protective custody. The child had walked at least a half of a mile. The boy was so cold that he couldn’t speak. If the boy had spent more time outside, he was at risk for hypothermia and even death. The boy’s parents, Eugene and Stacy Lane, were cited for child endangerment by local police and then released. The child now will be subject to proceedings by the State in which the parents will need to appear. I expect that the State of Iowa will require the parents to participate in a parenting plan in order to regain custody of the child unless there are instances of neglect and abuse from this household.