Foster father gets 100 days in jail for brain injury to baby in his care

The Salt Lake Tribune

PROVO - An American Fork man was sentenced Thursday to 100 days in jail for causing brain injury to his 1-year-old foster son. James Ryan Hadlock, 36, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of misdemeanor child abuse, one for an incident that led to the baby's hospitalization in December 2006.

Defense attorney Gary Weight told a 4th District Court judge the baby was injured when Hadlock threw him up in the air, almost to the ceiling, and accidentally let him fall about nine feet to a concrete floor covered with carpet.

The baby appeared to be fine until he stopped breathing several days later, Weight said.

At that point, "Baby Andrew," was airlifted to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where doctors said an MRI showed bleeding in the brain and evidence of similar bleeding in the past.

Now almost 3 years old and adopted by an out-of-state family, the boy has had difficulty learning to walk and talk, said prosecutor Donna Kelly. He has also had surgery on his eyes, which don't focus well, she said.

Hadlock's ex-wife, Gaylyne Hadlock, testified she does not believe Hadlock accidentally dropped their foster child.

"I have witnessed and been a victim of his violent behavior in the past - it can be very erratic," she said.

Because some doctors agreed the baby's injuries could have been caused by the fall Hadlock described, prosecutors reduced his two child abuse charges from second-degree felonies to class A misdemeanors.

Hadlock admitted dropping the child in December 2006, and to fracturing the baby's bones about a month earlier.

"It's hard to know where the truth really falls," said Judge Gary Stott. "But there is one truth that can't be ignored, and that truth is that a little boy was severely injured as a result of the conduct of Mr. Hadlock."

In addition to jail time, Stott sentenced Hadlock to two years' probation, a $790 fine and completion of any anger management classes required by probation officers.

A successful civil suit brought against Hadlock on behalf of Baby Andrew covered the cost of the baby's medical care and set up a trust for future medical expenses.

shunt@sltrib.com