18
February 1988
Augsburg,
West-Germany (S&S) - A 23-year-old Army Sergeant was
found guilty Wednesday of making a false statement, but was acquitted in the
scalding of the 3-year-old son of a friend and co-worker.
"It's
a classic case of an accident as that term is defined," defense attorney DAVID
COURT said of the scalding incident. Lack of intent was the key in the verdict,
COURT said.
SGT
Quinton M. Crutcher was sentenced for the false swearing conviction to receive
a reprimand, to forfeit $500 per month for six months and to be reduced in
grade to E-3.
The
incident occurred in early October, when Crutcher and his wife were staying with
friends pending a move to Fort Riley, Kan. While Crutcher was baby-sitting the
friends' son, the child received second-degree burns to his feet and lower legs
from immersion in water.
Crutcher
admitted lying to military investigators when describing some of the events
leading up to the scalding of the child.
"I
was scared," Crutcher said.