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Man Burns 4-Year-Old with Cigarette
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Man Burns 4-Year-Old with Cigarette

A heinous crime shook the community of Shawnee, Oklahoma, when 26-year-old Justin L. Ellis brutally burned a four-year-old child on the buttocks and legs with a lit cigarette on federal lands held in trust for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. The incident occurred on November 10, 2012, in Pottawatomie County.

Ellis, a tribal member of the Kickapoo Tribe, was arrested and charged with malicious injury of a child. He pleaded guilty to the charges on June 3, 2013, and was subsequently sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Friot.

The punishment was handed down despite the sentencing guidelines calling for up to 51 months in prison. The harsher sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the lasting impact it will have on the victim.

Upon release from prison, Ellis will be supervised by the U.S. Probation office for an additional three years, ensuring that he serves his time and begins the process of rehabilitation.

The case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Don Gifford, II, leading the prosecution efforts.

The community is left to wonder how such a heinous crime could occur, and what measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our most vulnerable citizens and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma Sanford C. Coats released a statement regarding the sentence, affirming the commitment to justice and the protection of children in Indian Country.