Rochester Man May Get Jail Time in Child Abuse Case

A Rochester man accused of breaking the arm of a toddler in his care is likely to get jail time, an unexpected turn after his attorney and judge had reached a sentencing agreement that would mean no jail time.

Judge Richard Caretti listened to the impassioned pleas of the child’s mother, Bailey Weber, and Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Nicole Blank, both of whom argued for a jail time, The Macomb Daily reported.

Jonathan Karney, 24, is accused of injuring Weber’s then 1½-year-old son while babysitting on Jan. 29, 2015, in Shelby Township. The toddler also suffered collarbone injuries.

On July 8, he pleaded no-contest to third-degree child abuse after Caretti dismissed a second-degree child-abuse charge in response to a motion to quash filed by Karney’s defense attorney, David Gorcyca.

The second-degree charge is punishable by up to two years in prison, but Gorcyca and Caretti reached an agreement for sentencing in the bottom range of the guidelines, which would be probation.

Caretti reversed course Wednesday after hearing arguments from Weber and seeing photographs of her son’s injuries. Under the new agreement, Karney faces up to six months in jail and up to two years’ probation. Weber, who said her son will be affected “for the rest of his life,” wanted the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

The sentence wasn’t immediately imposed. Karney can reject the deal and take the case to trial. The case resumes on Sept. 13.

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

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