Brown sentenced to 7 years for child abuse
February 18, 2015
Charlea Mills
In court last week, a man convicted of child endangerment received the maximum sentence in a judgment handed down for abuse of a two-year old girl in 2013.
Joshua Tyler Brown, 30, of Wheaton, was found guilty of child endangerment of the first degree in December after a four-day jury trial. On February 11, Stone County Judge Mark A. Stephens sentenced Brown to seven years incarceration for the crime, the maximum sentence allowed by Missouri State law. Judge Stephens was assigned to the case after Brown’s attorney John Lewright requested a change of judge from Judge Jack Goodman in 2013.
According to the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Johnnie Cox who tried the case, Brown left the two-year old girl with second degree burns on her buttocks, bruising on the back of her head, indications of bruising on the side of her head and places on the sides and top of her where her hair had been pulled out. When the child’s paternal grandmother saw the injuries, she and her biological father’s girlfriend took her to the hospital.
Since Cox has since taken a judgeship position, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Sullivan represented the State at the sentencing hearing.
The jury deliberated for five hours in December before bringing back a guilty verdict. At the time, Cox stated, “The jury in this case worked very hard, and they were very attentive throughout the whole trial. I’m satisfied that the jury gave this case consideration and did the right thing by submitting a guilty verdict.”
According to Cox, Brown had a violent past with an arrest for a similar charge in Fayetteville, Ark., however, he did not have any prior convictions.
Both Brown and the child’s mother, Janine Lynn Donnell, were charged with child endangerment. It was statements made by the child later that clued the prosecution into Brown causing the injuries. Donnell was charged for neglecting to take the child for medical treatment. Donnell entered a plea of not guilty and also requested a jury trial for which the date as not been set.
Brown is currently in the custody of the Barry County Sheriff’s Department awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections.
Charlea Mills
In court last week, a man convicted of child endangerment received the maximum sentence in a judgment handed down for abuse of a two-year old girl in 2013.
Joshua Tyler Brown, 30, of Wheaton, was found guilty of child endangerment of the first degree in December after a four-day jury trial. On February 11, Stone County Judge Mark A. Stephens sentenced Brown to seven years incarceration for the crime, the maximum sentence allowed by Missouri State law. Judge Stephens was assigned to the case after Brown’s attorney John Lewright requested a change of judge from Judge Jack Goodman in 2013.
According to the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Johnnie Cox who tried the case, Brown left the two-year old girl with second degree burns on her buttocks, bruising on the back of her head, indications of bruising on the side of her head and places on the sides and top of her where her hair had been pulled out. When the child’s paternal grandmother saw the injuries, she and her biological father’s girlfriend took her to the hospital.
Since Cox has since taken a judgeship position, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Sullivan represented the State at the sentencing hearing.
The jury deliberated for five hours in December before bringing back a guilty verdict. At the time, Cox stated, “The jury in this case worked very hard, and they were very attentive throughout the whole trial. I’m satisfied that the jury gave this case consideration and did the right thing by submitting a guilty verdict.”
According to Cox, Brown had a violent past with an arrest for a similar charge in Fayetteville, Ark., however, he did not have any prior convictions.
Both Brown and the child’s mother, Janine Lynn Donnell, were charged with child endangerment. It was statements made by the child later that clued the prosecution into Brown causing the injuries. Donnell was charged for neglecting to take the child for medical treatment. Donnell entered a plea of not guilty and also requested a jury trial for which the date as not been set.
Brown is currently in the custody of the Barry County Sheriff’s Department awaiting transfer to the Department of Corrections.