The boy and his 6-year old brother said Jones was punishing the child for wetting his pants, according to the release.
The child victim had many “C” shaped marks and other injuries on his torso, legs and penis.
The child disclosed to the detective that his father punished him with a cord.
“To tie a cord around a 4-year-old’s genitals because he wet his pants, that’s not just child abuse, that’s torture,” Prosecutor David Fornshell said in the release.
Jones spanked the boy with the cord, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by his lawyer, Jim Dearie.
The memorandum said Jones, who has been in jail since June, was the primary care giver for four children, and his family wanted him released to undergo counseling.
A psychologist said Jones could be counseled to prevent future incidents and blamed the incident in part on Jones’ upbringing, during which he was subjected to “extensive corporal punishment.”
“Mr. Jones thought he was doing the right thing and not the wrong thing when he ‘whooped’ his son,” Dr. Douglas Reed said. “He said, ‘What I did not know was not to discipline when I am angry.’ “
RELATED: Utah mom arrested for locking 12-year-old son in ‘torture chamber’ for year
Jones was also charged with felonious assault.
He had previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
His lawyer also motioned to suppress his statements to investigators before they reached a plea agreement in December.
In December, Jones, 25, of Lebanon pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangering.
He was sentenced by Judge Robert Peeler.
About the Author