A Mechanicsville man has been sentenced to three years in jail with all but six months suspended, after he was found guilty of second degree-assault on two of his children, aged 4 and 6. Jeffrey Wathen, 29, was sentenced Friday in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court by Judge Karen Abrams.
Wathen had entered an Alford plea to one second-degree assault charge which meant he didn’t admit guilt but comnceded that the state had enough evidence to convict him. Three other charges were dismissed, including two child abuse charges.
Sentencing guidelines for the crime were six months to three years. Judge Abrams noted that Wathen had attended both anger management and parenting classes, but she also noted Wathen’s long history of crime, including a number of violations of ex parte (stay away) orders involving the mother of his children. Abrams said the number of charges against him drove the penalty guidelines up.
The indictment against Wathen alleged that he slammed his two boys onto the kitchen floor. Assistant State’s Attorney Julie White said the boys had visible burns on their bodies.
Wathen’s attorney A. Shane Mattingly said that his client lost his temper while tousling with the boys. He added, though. “I am not trying to downplay the injuries.” The attorney asked for probation so that the father could be with the boys, whom he said loved their father and he them. Wathen has only been able to see the boys under supervision since the incident last March.
Wathen told Judge Abrams, “I have learned a lot from being away from my children and I don’t want to be away from them again.”
The judge told Wathen, “I am seeing violent crime after violent crime after violent crime,” including seven ex parte violations and an assault. “Violence is your reaction to things. It’s how you resolve things.”
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