Judge convicts Batavia Twp. man of abusing adopted son

BATAVIA, OH (FOX19) -

A Clermont County judge on Friday convicted a Batavia Township man of endangering children and felonious assault for abusing his 9-year-old adopted son.

John A. Kelley, 46, will be sentenced in February. He faces 2-8 years in prison and a $15,000 fine for each count.

Prosecutors say Kelley and his wife adopted the boy in November 2012 after acting as the child's foster parents for the previous 11 months. The boy had been in eight different homes.

The boy had received counseling since 2009. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after witnessing domestic violence in his biological home. When Kelley and his wife started fostering the boy, they signed an agreement that said they would not use corporal punishment.

When in their home, the boy had temper tantrums, threw items and urinated in the residence.

Kelley's disciplinary measures for the child included taking the boy to a local Kroger store and forcing him to wear a sign that read "I pee on my family if I don't get my way!"

When the sign and other tactics didn't stop the boy's urination, Kelley used a belt and a paddle, causing extensive bruising and welts.

Kelley said the child would receive additional punishment this past June 20. Fearing being hit again, the boy fled the home to a nearby neighbor's residence. The neighbor contacted authorities.

Clermont County Common Pleas Court Judge Jerry McBride convicted Kelley of two counts of endangering children (a second degree felony) and one count of felonious assault. McBride conducted Kelley's trial Dec. 16-20.