Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.

Jonathan Tranberg, 26, was living in Spencer in January 2008 when the alleged incident happened.

At his trial in June, Tranberg’s attorneys claimed he confessed to something he did not do so the boy’s mother could regain custody of her son from the state.

The defense called a witness who said she heard Tranberg fall down the steps while carrying the child. State medical examiner Dr. James Kaplan testified and said the child’s injuries could not have come from such a fall.

Jurors deliberated less than 30 minutes before finding Tranberg guilty of child abuse resulting in serious injury.

Friday, Roane Circuit Judge Tom Evans sentenced Tranberg to the maximum term of 2-to-10 years in prison. He also fined Tranberg $5,000.

Tranberg will receive credit for the 291 days he already spent in jail on the charge.

Also Friday, Evans sentenced a Spencer man for assaulting another man in his Alvord home.

Jason Cunningham, 30, of Imperial Gardens was sentenced to 1-to-5 years for unlawful wounding and the 174 days he has already served for battery.

Cunningham pled guilty to attacking Christopher Smith in January 2009.

In another case, Martha Harper, 53, of Otto Road, Spencer was placed on home confinement for her part in a scheme involving her former daughter-in-law.

Harper pled guilty to uttering a forged instrument and conspiracy for helping her son, Jokwin Schoonover II, enter a phony plea to bad check charges in magistrate court.

Schoonover allegedly used checks in his ex-wife’s name to make purchases at a local pharmacy. When the checks were returned in magistrate court, he entered a plea in his ex-wife’s name by telling the magistrate she was in a psychiatric hospital.

Part of the plan involved a power of attorney presented to the magistrate with the woman’s forged signature.

Evans sentenced Harper to 1-to-10 years home confinement and ordered her to pay restitution.

Her son is serving a sentence of 1-to-10 years in prison.

Two persons also entered pleas Friday.

Melvin Lee Tolliver, 53, of Chapman Avenue, Spencer pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery for stabbing his girlfriend in the chest with a knife after they got into an argument at her residence in September. The victim, Christina Taylor, was treated in a local hospital emergency room and released.

Felony charges against Tolliver, who is facing a maximum of 12 months in jail on each charge when he is sentenced Nov. 9, were dismissed.

In another case, Richelle Dobbins, 36, of Central Avenue, Spencer pled guilty to delivery of a controlled substance-oxycodone. She could get 1-to-15 years when she is sentenced, also on Nov. 9.

She also pled guilty to driving with no proof of insurance. A charge of uttering a forged document lodged against Dobbins for providing police with a phony insurance certificate was dismissed.

On Monday, Judge David Nibert placed a Walton man on home confinement for striking his 13-year-old daughter with a belt.

Marty James Lesher, 39, of Lesher Drive, Walton, pled guilty to child abuse resulting in injury.

Nibert ordered him to serve 1-to-5 years on home confinement, attend classes at the day report center and register as a child abuser.