Child abuse suspect accepts plea deal

Updated: Monday, 30 Mar 2009, 4:37 PM EDT

Published : Monday, 30 Mar 2009, 4:13 PM EDT

ELISHA PAPPACODA | FOX 35 News

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Brian Kloosterman pleaded no contest on Monday to child abuse charges in exchange for a sentence of time served and two years probation.

Kloosterman, 37, was charged in May 2008 with felony child abuse after being caught on his own nanny-cam allegedly using his body weight to pin down his adopted 3-year-old Guatemalan son.

Both sides agreed to drop an additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Kloosterman's attorneys, who descried him as a "full-time stay-at-home dad," asked that their client's probation be terminated after one year if he follows the set terms. But Judge Rand Wallis said he could not make that decision now, and that he would consider hearing a motion on the issue next year.

Had Kloosterman been convicted of the felony charge against him, he faced up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Kloosterman is married to pathologist Dr. Stephanie Schreiner, who was not present at court during his sentencing. Attorneys said that Kloosterman has been following the Department of Children and Families "reunification" plan for months, and has been living at home with his wife and children since early November.

His attorneys also told the judge that the Kloosterman family is now planning to move out of state, and asked if his probation could be transferred. Without specific details, the judge said Kloosterman would have to report to the Orange County Probation Office before noon Tuesday.

Kloosterman declined to make a statement but his attorneys said he accepted a plea to avoid putting his family through a trial. They also argued that the state had little to no evidence of injury to the child.

Attorneys would not elaborate on another pending case against Kloosterman dating back to the summer of 2007 that involved another one of his children. The state has not filed formal charges in this case, but Kloosterman's attorneys said the state has up to four years to do so.