Marc Steven Hartnett, a resident of Osceola County, has been sentenced to spend more than a decade in prison for physically abusing a toddler he was caring for in 2015
The situation that led to the initial criminal charges took place in September of 2015. Hartnett, who was 20-years-old at the time, was watching his girlfriend’s then 19-month-old child. The investigation began when Hartnett’s girlfriend came home to discover that her son had sustained severe injuries, and was now unresponsive. She called 911, and troopers from Reed City responded to the couple’s Evart home immediately.
The child was airlifted to De Vos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he underwent numerous surgeries for life-threatening injuries. Hartnett, who had been babysitting the little boy at the time and was the only one present in the home, was arrested by police.
At his arraignment, the Judge denied bond due to the severity of the charges. Hartnett was charged with single counts of First Degree Child Abuse, Torture, and Assault with Intent to Murder. All three of these charges are extremely serious under Michigan law, and all three are punishable by up to life in prison after conviction.
Almost a year after his arrest, Hartnett accepted a plea bargain. He appeared in the Osceola County Circuit Court, where he pled guilty to single counts of First Degree Child Abuse and Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder. While these are both serious felonies, they both carry penalties that are less harsh than the original charges.
A month after first formally accepting the plea bargain, Hartnett appeared in the Osceola Court again to be sentenced. As per the plea agreement, which said that he would be sentenced to between 13 and 40 years in prison. Hartnett was sentenced to spend 13 years behind bars. His former girlfriend has spoken to the media already regarding his sentence, saying that she thinks he “got off easy.”
Child abuse charges are very serious, usually resulting in multiple charges and harsh sentences for defendants. The only way to ensure that you are not falsely or wrongly accused of child abuse, is to have a highly skilled and experienced defense attorney on your side. Weak, timid or inexperienced defense attorneys can destroy your chances of future freedom.
If you or a loved one are facing allegations of abuse, or have been accused of harming or neglecting a child call us immediately at 800-576-6035. We have decades of experience handling these types of cases, and a lengthy track record of success. We are here to help.