Nemacolin man pleads in assault of 11-year-old
WAYNESBURG – A Nemacolin man who struck an 11-year-old boy with a plastic whiffle ball bat, leaving a welt on the boy’s chest, pleaded guilty Thursday before Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman and was sentenced to time served.
Adam Douglas Smith, 34, of 339 Grant St., pleaded guilty to charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
He was sentenced to 45 days to 23 ½ months in jail and given credit for time served, 45 days. Smith had been in jail since May 9, the date of the assault.
Smith also was fined $1,000 and ordered to perform 125 hours of community service. As special conditions, he is required to receive a drug and alcohol assessment and is prohibit from contact with his wife, Tonya, and the child.
Police had been called to his house for a report of a domestic situation involving a child, according to the criminal complaint filed by Cumberland Township police. Tonya Smith told police she and her husband were arguing and he had hit her in the face and pushed her. She said Smith followed her into the child’s room, where the child grabbed the whiffle ball bat to defend her.
Adam Smith said he told the child “go ahead and hit me” and the child hit him in the side of the neck, leaving a red mark.
Smith then grabbed the bat and hit the child on the left side of the rib cage, leaving a “softball-sized” welt, police said.
Adam Smith initially told police he hit the child only because the child hit him first, the complaint said.