A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated battery as a Level 3 Felony.
Anthony Martino, 28, admitted to Judge Kim Hall that he caused injury to an infant child while in his care that resulted in a broken arm in one incident and broken ribs in a separate incident. The actions occurred between Dec. 1, 2019 to Apr. 20, 2020, according to court documents.
Starke County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Micah Cox noted that the incidents have led to trauma beyond the injuries of the child. Defense Attorney Timothy Lemon noted that mental health issues were a factor in the case, which Judge Hall listed as a mitigating factor. A history of violence was deemed an aggravating factor.
A plea agreement negotiated between the State and the defense had a cap of a maximum of nine years on each count. Judge Hall accepted the plea agreement and after hearing arguments to determine a sentence, he sentenced Martino to the maximum of nine years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on each count. The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 18 years. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim through the duration of the sentence.
