BAY MINETTE, Alabama -- A Baldwin County judge ruled Wednesday that a Summerdale father will serve 20 years in prison for placing his infant son in scalding bath water in 2009 and leaving him there for 5 minutes.
The baby, who was 6 months old at the time, suffered first- and second-degree burns, authorities said.
Michael York, 23, apologized to his family prior to receiving his sentence and asked Circuit Judge Charles Partin for a second chance to become a productive member of society.
In April, York pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic violence in the case. The charge is a Class A felony punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Megan Doggett asked the judge to issue a life sentence, given the severity of the crime. Defense attorney Daniel P. Mitchell said life would be too harsh, and requested a split sentence.
In giving York 20 years, Partin said, I cant imagine why anyone would intentionally do to a baby what you did. The judge gave York credit for time served in jail.
According to prosecutors and police reports, York put his son in hot bath water in May 2009 and left him unattended. The child suffered first-degree burns on his torso and second-degree burns on his left arm and hand, according to testimony and police reports. He also had scalding on his legs, genitals and head, along with bruising on his head and right thigh, a sheriffs deputy said.
The burns led to an infection that spread to the boys blood, a Baldwin County Department of Human Resources employee told the court at the sentencing hearing. The boy has since recovered.
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