VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Kennerdell man who reportedly slapped a mentally-challenged man with cerebral palsy across the face multiple times was sentenced on Friday to up to one year in jail.

According to court documents, Judge Robert L. Boyer sentenced 28-year-old Tyler James Watson to a minimum of two months up to a maximum of 12 months of confinement and two years of probation on Friday, September 25, on one first-degree misdemeanor count of neglect of a care-dependent person.

The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Court documents indicate Watson pleaded guilty to the above charge on February 18.

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

– Strikes, Shoves, Kicks or Attempts/Threatens Care-Dependent Person, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary (two counts)

Watson is scheduled to begin his term of incarceration on October 9.

The charges are the result of an incident that occurred earlier this month at a residential program facility in Cornplanter Township, Venango County.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Morrison, of PSP Franklin. between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on September 2, Tyler Watson was employed as a residential program worker for a known Cornplanter Township facility. His job was to provide care for the victim, a cerebral palsy patient who is intellectually disabled.

During his shift, Watson over-extended the victim’s right arm, causing injury to his right bicep, the complaint states.

Around 3:00 p.m., Watson allegedly slapped the victim across the face 10 to 12 times because he was screaming in the living room area. A short time later, while in the victim’s bedroom, Watson forcefully slapped the victim across the face repeatedly causing the victim to scream loudly. This caused redness and a welt on the victim’s face, according to the complaint.

On September 7, around 4:00 p.m., Watson confessed to the above-mentioned incident, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, a non-custodial interview was conducted at the PSP Franklin Franklin Station. Watson gave a verbal and written confession.