PERRY -- A Warner Robins man was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for the 2011 beating of the mother of his son.
Senior Judge Tommy Day Wilcox of the Macon Judicial Circuit also sentenced 29-year-old Arthur Agnew to five years probation upon his release from prison. Agnew received credit for time served since his Jan. 16, 2011, arrest.
Wilcox, who presided over the four-day trial, denied Agnew’s request for first offender status, which would have enabled his record to be cleared of the charge for all practical purposes if he successfully completed his prison and probation terms.
Wilcox told Agnew he denied the request “given your conduct in this case.” The judge also ordered Agnew to have no contact with the victim or her parents.
Prosecutor Julia Bowen told the judge when arguing for the maximum sentence of 20 years that Agnew “battered” the victim’s face “beyond recognition” and broke her neck.
The sentencing followed Thursday’s verdict from a Houston County jury that found Agnew guilty of aggravated battery and cruelty to children. The former couple’s young son was in the residence at the time of the Jan. 15, 2011 beating. Wilcox left the decision on whether Agnew could have contact with the boy to the civil courts.
The jury also found Agnew not guilty of all other charges against him, which included rape, aggravated sodomy, kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Agnew apologized for his actions during the hearing, but said he could not take responsibility for the sexual charges that were lodged against him because he said he did not commit them.
Public Defender Nick White noted Agnew took responsibility for his actions from the start. White said that during opening statements he told jurors Agnew was guilty of the aggravated battery and cruelty to children charges. White said Agnew was innocent of the other charges.
Family members of Agnew and the victim made emotional appeals to the judge during the hearing. The victim broke down and had to be helped from the courtroom.
Agnew is expected to serve nine to 13 years of his sentence before he’s likely to be considered for parole under current guidelines, White said.
Agnew faced life in prison with the possibility of parole had he been convicted of the rape, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping charges. Under state law, parole may not be considered until 30 years of such a sentence is served.
