Plea deal expected in child-beating case

CLINTON - A Clinton man accused of beating his 16-month-old son is expected to go to court on May 9 to enter a plea agreement.

Attorneys for Michael A. VanHyning, 24, on Thursday asked DeWitt County Judge Stephens Peters to remove VanHyning's jury trial from the calendar. The trial was set to begin March 18.

Van Hyning is charged with aggravated battery of a child in connection with the injury of Cameron VanHyning, the adopted son of VanHyning and his wife, Jodene. Both parents have surrendered parental rights to the child, who is living in foster care.

VanHyning admitted to physically abusing the child on several occasions, beginning in March 2001, police said. Claiming he was coerced, VanHyning unsuccessfully asked the judge to throw out his statements to police.