A father in Indiana, United States, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison following the death of his one-week-old son in a fatal attack by the family’s pet dog.
The victim, identified as Jason Anthony Weaver, was reportedly attacked by Chomp, a five-year-old husky-pit bull mix, at the family’s rural home in Markle, Indiana.
According to details reported by the New York Post, the newborn suffered as many as 180 bite wounds across his head and body during the attack.
Medical examinations reportedly found that the baby sustained severe internal injuries, including brain haemorrhages, fractured ribs and damage to his lungs.
The incident occurred in September and subsequently led to the arrest of the baby’s parents and four other members of the family.
Authorities reportedly found the family home in poor condition, allegedly describing it as being littered with rubbish and infested with insects.
The dog involved in the attack was later euthanised.
Father accepts plea agreement
Jason’s father was initially charged with two counts of neglect and one count of harbouring a non-immunised dog that caused an injury.
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, one of the more serious neglect charges was dropped in exchange for a 16-year prison sentence.
The sentence was imposed on Monday.
The case centres on allegations that the child’s parents failed to adequately protect the vulnerable newborn from dangerous conditions in the home.
The precise factual and legal findings underlying the father’s sentence are contained in the court proceedings and plea agreement.
Meanwhile, the baby’s mother, Violet Weaver, is scheduled to appear in court later this month for a change-of-plea hearing.
Criminal proceedings are also continuing against the child’s grandparents — Timothy Kinsey, Rita Wickey and Michael Wickey — as well as his uncle, Tony Kinsey.
The cases against the remaining defendants are ongoing.
