Three men plead guilty in attack

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Three men pleaded guilty to beating and torturing a baby sitter at the urging of a mother who had just learned the man had molested her two young boys.

The mother was never charged because it is not a crime to conspire to commit a misdemeanor and because she did not directly participate in the attack on Phillip Bernard Gibson, prosecutor Ken Frazee said.

Billy Hatten, Randolph Evans and Dewon Williams pleaded guilty Monday.

In 2000, the day the boys' mother learned of the molestations, one of the men held Gibson down while another burned his genitals with a hot spatula. Gibson was also hurled into a concrete walk and broke his arm.

Gibson, 28, pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting the boys and was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

Williams, 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced Monday to a year in jail. Hatten, 40, and Evans, 37, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and will get at least 19 months under their plea bargains.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 3 for Hatten, Aug. 28 for Evans.