New Madrid County man sentenced for assaulting son

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A New Madrid County man will spend 17 years in prison for assaulting his young son.

Ricky Garza Jr., 20, of Canalou, Mo., was sentenced to prison after entering a guilty plea to first-degree assault. Circuit Judge Fred Copeland sentenced Garza Tuesday.

Garza was arrested June 18 by New Madrid County sheriff's deputies after they were alerted by medical workers of a possible child abuse incident.

According to the probable-cause statement, the child, who was 1 month old at the time, had serious injuries from bite wounds. Also the child had been hit and tossed to the floor, according to the court statement.

Garza has been held in the New Madrid County Jail since his arrest.

Garza's suspended sentence imposed June 22, 2010, on an April 15, 2010, charge of possession of any methamphetamine precursor drug with intent to manufacture amphetamine, methamphetamine or any of their analogs was revoked Tuesday. Garza was ordered to serve four years in prison, which is to run concurrently to the previous charge.

Pertinent address:

New Madrid, MO