SPRINGFIELD — A father who admitted to abusing his 4-month-old son, leading to the boy’s death, learned his punishment during a sentencing hearing Tuesday.
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Landan Jennings, 25, was sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after pleading guilty to the abuse that led to his son’s death.
Clark County deputies and medics were called to Jennings’ home about a child’s illness in December 2023. After the boy’s death, a lengthy sheriff’s office investigation led to the arrest of Jennings and the boy’s mother Angel Seiker, 21 on initial charges of murder, assault, and child endangering.
Both Jennings and Seiker entered guilty pleas earlier this month to a felony charge of permitting child abuse.
The boy had sustained several broken bones, including a skull fracture, according to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Really the only thing this child experienced in this world was pain and suffering,” Clark County Common Pleas Judge Rastatter said during the sentencing hearing.
Jennings and his lawyer had asked for a sentence of probation in the case.
“I cannot in good conscience show you any mercy or any leniency when your son didn’t get any of that,” Rastatter said.
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Emotions ran high during Tuesday’s sentencing. Jennings’ mother, Amy Owens, broke down in tears during the hearing and was led out of the courtroom.
Owens previously spoke with News Center 7 shortly after Jennings and Seiker were arrested in October 2024 claiming they were innocent. Owens said that the family had been led to believe the boy died from a rhinovirus and not abuse.
Owens declined to speak with News Center 7 after the sentencing Tuesday.
Seiker will be sentenced at a later date.
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