A 24-year-old Salem man has been sentenced to four years and ten months in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery to a child under 13.
As part of the plea agreement, a Class X felony charge for the same offense was dropped against Michael Farrar of Salem. He was accused of causing critical injury to his three-month-old child.
Salem Police were notified of the injury when the child’s mother brought him to the hospital.
Farrar claimed he tripped and fell on the child while a doctor at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis said the injuries did not match Ferrar’s story. However, Public Defender Craig Griffin had an expert witness who said Ferrar’s explanation was possible.
Not wanting to leave the chance Farrar could be found not guilty based on the difference of opinion of the experts, State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth accepted the plea agreement to the lesser charge to assure a conviction and prison time for Farrar.
Once he is out of prison, Farrar will be placed on six months court supervision and given credit for 879 days already served in the Marion County Jail. He’ll also have to register as violent offender of youth.
