Foster father gets jail time for child abuse

The Deseret News

PROVO -- He says he accidentally dropped their 1-year-old foster child, Andrew, while playing a game. His ex-wife says she doesn't believe that story but wasn't there to see what really happened."This case is a demonstration of how judges are put in situations of having to impose sentences and pass judgments ... based upon conflicting input," 4th District Court Judge Gary Stott said. "It's hard to know where the truth really falls, but ... the one truth is that a little boy was severely injured as a result of conduct with Mr. Hadlock. What that conduct was, I don't know."

Ryan James Hadlock, 36, was sentenced to 100 days in the Utah County Jail for two class A misdemeanors of child abuse after he pleaded guilty to injuring the boy.

Hadlock's attorney, Gary Weight, said that Hadlock had been tossing Andrew up high, nearly to his home's 9-foot ceilings, and that once on the way down, Hadlock didn't catch Andrew and he fell to the floor.

"The child was OK for two or three days after that, he was watched by my client, then he went into a state of unconsciousness, then medical help was called," Weight said.

There was some disagreement between doctors about whether a drop like that could cause bleeding on the brain, or if there had been abuse, prosecutor Donna Kelly said. Because of that, Kelly agreed to reduce what were felony charges to the misdemeanors if Hadlock would plead guilty.

He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of child abuse from an older fracture on Andrew's leg, Kelly said.

"I feel like the recommendation is just too lenient," Kelly said of the 20-day recommendation from Adult Probation and Parole. "It also does a disservice to Mr. Hadlock. He needs to recognize that what he did was not just a little rough play, it was a crime. Apparently he will not realize that until he's in the Utah County Jail."

Ex-wife Gaylyne Hadlock said she wanted Hadlock to take anger management classes for his temper and violent tendencies and also said she is concerned about the 5-year-old child they have together.

The Hadlocks had been foster parents for just over three months when the incident occurred and Andrew was taken from the home, Gaylyne Hadlock said. She later filed for divorce.

They had originally planned to adopt the little boy, but now Andrew has been adopted by a family out of state and is doing well, despite a few health issues, Gaylyne Hadlock said.

"All I could ask for is that he's in a good place, he's happy, he's well taken care of," she said. "Every child deserves love. Every child deserves safety."

Andrew had surgery on his eyes, which don't focus correctly, and he hasn't started talking, like a normal nearly 3-year-old child should, Kelly said. They're not sure yet what mental damage Andrew may have.

"My client has accepted full responsibility," Weight said. "This is a charge that involves negligent conduct. That's what he admitted, what he does admit. He is very remorseful, sorry to have caused (pain) to that child."

Along with the jail time, Hadlock was ordered to spend two years on probation and complete any anger management or counseling recommended by Adult Probation and Parole.

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