A dad in Texas got what he deserved after being sentenced to six years in prison for repeatedly punching his 2-year-old son in the face. Why? Because the man feared that his son could be gay. Homophobic parents are still very much a problem, and clearly they're passing their issues onto their young children. It is still unacceptable.
While facing the judge, the father tried to express remorse for his actions, blaming substance abuse issues. Thankfully, the judge saw through his excuses, and is making sure that he's facing prison time for what he decided to do to his child.
More from CafeMom: Teacher's Scary Homophobic Rant During Road Rage Incident Goes Viral on Social Media
The father caused major bodily harm to a toddler.
Francisco Ricardo Sotello Baez, a 23-year-old father of five, was charged with family violence and assault and sentenced to six years in prison after admitting to punching his 2-year-old son in the face multiple times. The repeated beating caused the child’s nose to bleed.
The attack was not an isolated incident.
According to Pink News, Sotello Baez said that he regularly physically disciplined his son in an attempt to “toughen him up,” because he was concerned about the young boy acting feminine.
Sotello Baez explained that his child preferred playing with Barbies and kitchen sets instead of robots, cars, and other toys that he had. He then revealed that he was “disappointed” that his son might be gay.
More from CafeMom: My Older Sons Made Homophobic Jokes About Their 15-Year-Old Brother & I Won’t Stand for It
His explanation didn't win him any favor with the judge.
Judge Stephanie Boyd of the 187th District Court in Bexar County, Texas, wasn’t thrilled with Sotello Baez’s reasoning.
“Basically, you beat up a 2-year-old because you think your 2-year-old is gay, and you wanna toughen up a 2-year-old,” Judge Boyd said. “He’s 2!”
The police report indicated that Sotello Baez texted the boy’s mother after the assault, saying he had done something to “your child” that she wasn’t going to like.
He tried to appeal for a lesser sentence.
Sotello Baez’s defense attorney argued for leniency, telling the judge that he pleaded no contest and was applying for deferred adjudication, which is a type of probation that would allow him to continue to provide for his family.
He then addressed the court, expressing remorse for his actions and telling them he had a newborn at home to care for. He blamed his actions on drug and alcohol abuse, which impaired his judgment. Additionally, he had begun attending church to turn his life around.
The judge was unimpressed with his admissions.
The state prosecution were the ones pushing the judge to issue the six year prison sentence, noting the severity of the crime, and citing potential long-term injury to the toddler.
Boyd agreed, and issued additional restrictions on Sotello Baez that include barring him from having any contact with his son or any other children during and after his time in prison. Since he is not a US citizen, the judge also advised that he not reenter the country illegally after his release.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
