Richard T. Bryant Jr., 42, was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 120 days suspended, meaning he’ll serve 60 days.
RELATED: 911 caller: Piqua boy in cold yelling 'mommy' for help
Bryant was ordered to pay court costs and have no unsupervised contact with children. He also was given five years probation. Judge Samuel L. Huffman told Bryant he found face the remaining 120 days in jail if he commits a crime while on probation.
FIRST REPORT
A 42-year-old Piqua man found guilty of assault and endangering children after he fired a BB gun at a 6-year-old boy is scheduled to be sentenced in court today, records show.
RELATED: Piqua man guilty of firing BB gun at boy; case dismissed against child's mother
Richard T. Bryant Jr. was convicted June 21 by Miami County Municipal Court Judge Samuel Huffman following a bench trial in the Jan. 27 incident.
Bryant and the child’s mother, Heather M. Behm, were arrested after police were called to the home in the 300 block of Third Street in Piqua after a neighbor reported that a boy was crying after he had been made to stand in the cold.
“We have a kid that is down the street crying, saying he’s cold and we don’t know where he’s at,” the woman told he dispatcher.
The 6-year-old’s mother reportedly had him stand outside as a punishment.
“He’s yelling mommy he’s cold,” said the woman.
The boy also told police his mother’s boyfriend, Bryant Jr., shot him with a BB gun, and Lt. Jerry Fogt said the child had a mark on his leg. He did not require medical attention, the lieutenant said.
Miami County Children’s Services took custody of the boy and another child in the home.
Behm was initially charged with child abuse/endangering; possession of drugs; and tampering with drugs, though the case against her was dismissed.
Huffman ordered a pre-sentence investigation for Bryant Jr., who will be sentenced in Miami County Common Pleas Court this afternoon.
About the Author