Man sentenced to 6 1/2 years for punching Ind. boy

Associated Press

12:40 p.m. CST, December 4, 2011

NEW ALBANY, Ind.— A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for punching a toddler in the stomach so hard doctors say the boy nearly died.

The News and Tribune reports that Juan Carlos Contreras-Juarez pleaded guilty in Floyd County on Friday to felony aggravated battery. Aside from his prison sentence, he also was ordered to serve 3 1/2 years of probation.

Contreras-Juarez is an illegal immigrant from Mexico and will be deported upon completion of his prison sentence.

He punched a then-19-month-old New Albany boy in the stomach in January 2010, causing a traumatic abdominal injury that medical professionals said nearly killed the youngster.

The child's mother told the court during Friday's sentencing hearing that her now 3-year-old son has fully recovered.

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