East Toledoan avoids prison in child-endangering case

2/10/2006

An East Toledo man who fractured the arm of his infant son avoided going to prison yesterday and instead was placed on community control for four years.

John Hardy, 21, of 103 Midvale Ave. was sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court by Judge James Bates for an incident Oct. 14 in which the defendant's 5-week-old son, Anthony Hardy, suffered a broken arm.

In addition to community control, Judge Bates placed Hardy in a work-release program and ordered that he participate in a Lucas County Children Services' parenting program. Hardy also was warned that he would go to prison for two years if he fails to comply with any of the court programs and orders.

Hardy, who on Dec. 20 pleaded no contest to and was found guilty of child endangering, told Judge Bates the incident was an accident, and he didn't mean to hurt his son.

The boy was in Hardy's care at his former home on Stratton Street when he was injured. He was taken to Bay Park Community Hospital in Oregon, where the injury was diagnosed and reported to authorities.