KINGMAN – A Golden Valley man who admits he brutally abused his girlfriend’s 14-month-old son has been given a 10-year prison term. The punishment that Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen ordered Monday for Matthew Brown, 25, was the most prison time possible under terms of a previously entered plea agreement.
Brown pleaded guilty to two charges reduced to attempted child abuse for harming the toddler in April, 2022. A sexual conduct with a minor count and another abuse charge are dismissed in the deal.
That the victim was treated for rectal bleeding along with other physical abuse contributed to the original sex offense charging decision. Public Defender Paul Amann said Brown adamantly denies that any sexual activity occurred and that his client regrets harming the toddler, who recovered about three months after the violence, according to his grandfather.
Deputy Mohave County Attorney Amanda Claerhout said Brown told law enforcement officers that he “womped” the victim for incessant crying. “He had bruises all over his face, all over his body, in various stages of healing,” she said.
“I am remorseful for that,” Brown avowed to the Court.
In addition to rectal bleeding, Claerhout said the victim suffered deep purple bruising in his genital area and that the defendant admitted punching the baby very hard there 10 times. “He clearly has anger management issues,” the prosecutor said.
Judge Jantzen made it clear that his punishment reflected the violent activity to which the defendant admitted, but that lifetime probation was not appropriate since he is not convicted of a sex offense. Jantzen ordered that Brown serve 10 years probation following prison.
