ALGER COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – An Alger County man is convicted of child abuse charges after a jury trial in Alger County Court Tuesday.
The county prosecutor says Jon Everett McNally Young was convicted of Child Abuse – 2nd Degree and Witness Intimidation for an incident that occurred on December 7, 2022.
Former Child Protective Services employee Matthew Eveningred testified Young attacked his 11-year-old son in the early morning hours by dragging him from his bed, causing his head to bounce off the floor. Eveningred testified Young then got a belt from another room and struck the child 11 times in the legs, buttocks, and torso causing significant bruising and abrasions to the child’s body and bruising to his head.
Eveningred testified that he attempted to interview the child later that day during a CPS house call with Michigan State Police. Eveningred said Young grabbed the child by the arm and said, “This is how far this has come. If I go to jail for this tonight, I go to jail for this tonight, but I love you.” No party had mentioned jail up to that point in the CPS house call. This incident led to the Witness Intimidation charge.
Young took the stand in his own defense after being advised of his right to remain silent by both his attorney and judge. The prosecutor’s office says during direct and cross-examination, Young admitted to his actions, stating he intended to teach his child “a lesson in pain.”
The jury deliberated for one hour before reaching a guilty verdict.
“We are very pleased that the jury chose to take a stand on this abuse,” Alger County Prosecutor Robert T. Steinhoff said after the trial. “No child should have to endure this; my office made a determination that this conduct far exceeded reasonable parental discipline and spilled into the realm of brutality and torment, and the jury agreed.”
Young is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2024 at 10 a.m.
