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2 men get prison in separate child abuse cases
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Two men received prison sentences in separate child-endangering cases in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, who handled both cases, went over a recommended two-year sentencing recommendation by prosecutors and sentenced Matthew Pendergast, 29, of East Vermont Avenue in Sebring, to three years in prison for causing bruises to a 6-year-old girl. The abuse was reported in December.
Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin said Pendergast had hit the child in several areas of her body and the abuse was first noticed by teachers at the child’s school.
Pendergast claimed he merely spanked the child, but McLaughlin said the injuries came from contact harder than a normal spanking by an adult.
The child’s mother also faces misdemeanor charges in county court in Sebring.
Pendergast’s attorney, Michael Gollings, asked for probation, saying his client was spanking the child, although he said he could not dispute pictures of the girl’s injuries.
Pendergast said he wishes he did not hit the child as hard as he did, and he said he is in counseling for anger management.
Pendergast said he also has a son but he has only seen that child one time.
“I would do anything to take back the bruising I did,” Pendergast said.
Judge Krichbaum said he would send Pendergast for counseling – but not the counseling Pendergast was hoping for.
“I’m thinking about giving him some counseling,” Judge Krichbaum said. “But it will be with bad people because he will be going to the penitentiary.”
Judge Krichbaum said two years was not an adequate punishment for the harm Pendergast inflicted on the girl.
“It’s just hard for me to sit here in the same room with someone like you who would do that to an innocent child,” Judge Krichbaum said. “I have to do this [sentencing] so I can get you out of my sight.”
Later, Judge Krichbaum also sentenced Ronald Higham, 39, of Struthers, to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony charge of child endangering.
The charge stems from what McLaughlin said was the failure of Higham to properly care for his then 14-year-old son, who suffered from a medical condition but did not have the proper supplies to help the victim deal with his condition.
McLaughlin said the child and home were covered in feces when police went to investigate.
The boy had burns and other injuries because of the lack of supplies, which bumped the charge to a felony, McLaughlin said.
Higham declined to speak before his sentencing.
“I can’t imagine a parent not tending to this somehow,” Judge Krichbaum said.
McLaughlin said the boy is now in the care of a family member and getting treatment for his condition and improving.
Higham’s wife also is facing charges in the case.