BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
STARKE— A 41-year-old Starke man was sentenced to three years in prison after he failed to seek medical treatment for his son who was injured in an ATV crash.
Dewayne Curtis Henderson pleaded no contest to the May 1 offense of child neglect with great bodily harm.
According to an arrest report, Bradford deputies investigated the incident after a call from a child protective investigator.
Arresting officer Kimberly Mosley wrote in the report that after Florida’s Department of Families and Children received a call from its child abuse hotline, an investigator discovered severe skin injuries on the victim.
“The area of the chest and torso was approximately 80% covered by the injuries with missing skin, blisters and other injuries,” wrote Mosley.
The officer added that the victim and his 11-year-old brother were riding a Honda TRX 650 when the victim’s shorts got caught in a tire.
“(The victim) was pulled under the ATV and possibly drug, causing the gravel to peel the skin from his chest and torso,” wrote Mosley. “Dewayne stated he placed ointment on the injuries at the time, but did not seek medical attention…until directed by (the child protection investigator) on May 5th. It was determined the accident occurred on Monday, May 3rd.”
During an interview, the father admitted that at the time of the crash, he had left the two boys alone at home.
“Dewayne admitted to being scared to take (the victim) to the hospital to seek medical care due to him already being convicted of child neglect,” wrote Mosley.
The defendant also tested positive for cocaine and Subtex for which he did not have a prescription.
Mosley noted that at the time of his arrest, Henderson had prior convictions of DUI-possession of cocaine, introducing contraband into a correctional facility, grand theft and child neglect.
The victim was admitted to the burn unit at UF Shands to to the severity of his injuries.
The DCF child abuse hotline is 800-962-2873.
