Rochester Man Expected to Get Light Sentence in Child Abuse Case

A 24-year-old Rochester man accused of injuring a toddler in his care is expected to get a jail sentence of time served and probation when he appears for sentencing in Macomb County Circuit Court Tuesday.

The 1½-year-old boy sustained a broken forearm and collarbone injury while in the care of Jonathan Karney on Jan. 29, 2015, The Macomb Daily reported.

On July 8, Judge Richard Caretti dismissed a second-degree child-abuse charge in response to a motion to quash filed by Karney’s defense attorney, David Gorcyca — a move that infuriated Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Nicole Blank and the child’s mother, Bailey Weber, 23, of Shelby Township.

“It’s such a miscarriage of justice,” Blank told the newspaper. “It was done over my objections. I have no control.”

Karney pleaded no-contest to third-degree child abuse. The higher charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while third-degree child abuse is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Caretti and Gorcyca reached an agreement for Karney’s sentence to be in the bottom of the sentencing guideline range, which is probation, the report said.

Weber plans to speak at Tuesday’s sentencing.

» For much more on this, go to The Macomb Daily.

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