Joseph Clark, 22, gets 5 years for breaking toddler's leg in 2 places

WARREN

Joseph F. Clark, 22, of Royal Mall Drive, Niles, was sentenced to 90 days in the Trumbull County jail on charges of felonious assault and child endangering for breaking a 16-month-old boy’s leg in two places.

Clark pleaded guilty in March. Authorities said the assault occurred Oct. 13, 2010, at the apartment where Clark lived with the boy’s mother.

Clark must stay away from the boy, be on intensive-supervision probation for five years and complete anger-management and child-care/parenting programs. He will spend eight years in prison if he violates the terms.

During sentencing Thursday in the courtroom of Judge John M. Stuard, the great-aunt of the victim told Judge Stuard she has had custody of the boy since Nov. 1. The woman said she saw bruises on the boy nearly every weekend when she would baby-sit him and insisted that her niece call the Trumbull County Children Services Board.

A few days later, the boy had to be taken to the hospital for a leg injury that turned out to be a double fracture.