Man receives probation for child abuse

By Luke Nichols

A Wymore man was sentenced to one year probation Thursday morning for misdemeanor child abuse.

John Hintz, 44, pleaded no contest in October to the charge in exchange for a joint recommendation from both attorneys of two years probation.

The charge stems from accusations made in March claiming that Hintz was using discipline methods that could physically and mentally affect the 7-year-old child.

Court documents say Hintz had disciplined the child by making him do push ups with closed fists on a rock surface. The child did the push ups while Hintz placed his foot on the child’s back.

Hintz was also accused of forcing the child to run around his shop until he was sweating, breathing hard and his legs ached. Court documents also say the child was only given a piece of plain bread and a glass of water the night before.

Deputies at the time observed the child’s knuckles to be red with scratches and cuts. He also had scratches on his back and chest and blisters on both feet.

The child was adopted by the Hintz family in November of 2010. The child had previously been abused by his biological parents and had been in 14 different foster homes prior to being adopted.

Despite the joint recommendation of two years probation, Judge Daniel Bryan only sentenced Hintz to one year probation.

Hintz’s attorney, Dustin Garrison, felt the punishment was appropriate. He said the child had a history of unruly behavior and normal discipline methods weren’t working. Garrison also questioned the investigation.

“I don’t think what my client did in this case was consistent with the allegations made by either law enforcement or the child,” Garrison said.