Baby tug-of-war gets man 120 days
A local man will serve 120 days in jail for a tug-of-war over his girlfriend?s 6-month-old baby which left the toddler injured as the two adults pulled the baby in different directions.
?It was horrendous conduct,? said assistant district attorney Mark Tribble in announcing Shannon Atnip will serve 120 days of a four-year sentence on the charge of child abuse for his part in the child?s injury.
Atnip entered a best-interest plea to the charge of child abuse and was given the sentence by Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley. In addition to the 120 days in jail, which Atnip had already served while waiting for his day in court, he will also be required to attend anger management and perform 60 hours public service work. He is also to stay away from the child.
The sentence comes after the baby of his girlfriend, Tashia M. King, suffered an arm injury earlier this year. King, who is charged with the same count as Atnip, is set to have her case heard at the later date.
A subsequent investigation of the child?s injury revealed it had happened during an argument between King and Atnip on May 19 of this year.
During the altercation, there was reportedly a struggle over the baby during which time the toddler was being pulled in opposite directions by the two adults.
The pair was originally charged with aggravated child abuse, a crime which carries 15 to 25 years in prison. However, while the child was injured, prosecutors admitted the injuries did not constitute serious bodily injury, a requirement for conviction on the more serious aggravated charge.