By Matt Sanders, The Paducah Sun, Ky.
Jul. 15–METROPOLIS, Ill. — Shawn Mathis, who pleaded guilty last month to aggravated battery of his 5-week-old baby, will wait one more week before learning how long he will spend in prison.
Mathis, 34, faces six to 30 years.
He was to have been sentenced Monday in Massac Circuit Court. However, the 10 a.m. hearing was pushed back to the afternoon session because a court reporter had a family emergency, State’s Attorney Patrick Windhorst said. During the afternoon hearing, Mathis’ attorney, Shane Aden, asked for a continuance because a potential witness for the defendant was not available. Windhorst did not object.
Judge Terry Foster scheduled the sentencing for 1:30 p.m. July 21 in Massac Circuit Court.
Windhorst withheld comment on what sentence he will recommend.
The charge is a Class X felony, the most severe Illinois felony except for first-degree murder.
Mathis had faced a July 7. However, he pleaded guilty during a June 16 hearing after Foster accepted an evaluation that deemed the defendant fit to stand trial.
Mathis was charged May 25, 2007, after doctors at St. Louis Children’s Hospital suspected that the baby had been abused. The baby was transferred to the St. Louis hospital one week after being taken to Massac Memorial Hospital. Court records said that between May 10 and May 23, someone injured the baby by squeezing his body and head.
Matt Sanders can be contacted at 575-8659.
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