By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer
July 25, 2008 12:28 pm
—
A final verdict has finally come with a plea agreement for a Wynnewood man who twice has been formally accused of injuring his infant son nearly two years ago.
The deal was struck this week with Joshua Lee Kettler, 27, only moments before a scheduled preliminary hearing in Garvin County District Court.
Kettler was first accused in September 2006 of injuring his son less than a month after the baby’s birth.
The felony charge of injury to a minor child was later dropped shortly before the start of a jury trial in a Pauls Valley courtroom. It was refiled in July 2007 leading to this week’s agreement between Kettler and state prosecutors.
In return for a guilty verdict Kettler was given a 12-year prison sentence with all that time suspended except for the four months he’s already served in county jail.
Along with an order to attend an anger management course, Kettler was also informed he will be supervised for two years by state probation officers. A number of fines and court costs were also assessed.
The original charge against Kettler was dismissed last year at the state’s request on the claim more time was needed to continue an investigation into the allegation.
When the charge returned a few months later it again accused Kettler of causing several injuries, namely broken bones, to his 27-day-old son while the two were at their Wynnewood residence.
Authorities reported the young baby received such injuries as a broken leg, cracked ribs and two skull fractures.
An affidavit filed last year showed Kettler denied hurting the baby and instead claimed the injuries came during an accidental fall.
It was that affidavit that indicated Wynnewood police found on the day of the incident Kettler, an unnamed woman and their newborn son at the Wynnewood residence.
Kettler told them he was giving the child a bath in the home’s bathroom sink when the incident occurred.
He claimed to have placed the baby on the counter to dry him off.
While Kettler claimed to be reaching for a diaper bag when the baby rolled off the bathroom counter forcing him to reach for and grab the infant’s leg.
Kettler said he then heard a pop, indicating the baby was injured.
The criminal charge against Kettler came after an emergency room physician at Pauls Valley General Hospital told authorities the baby’s injuries didn’t appear to be accidental.
That assessment was later seconded after the child was placed into the state’s custody and taken to an Oklahoma City hospital.
Authorities reported an examination of the baby revealed the broken bones and skull fractures.
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