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A judge in Indiana sentenced former Gary resident Riley Choate to 80 years in prison on Friday for neglect in the death of his son, a 13-year-old who had been regularly beaten, confined to a dog cage for two years, and fed a starvation diet.
The boy, Christian Choate, weighed less than 50 pounds when he died on April 4, 2009, of blunt force trauma to the head, the Chicago Tribune reported.
"The pain and the suffering, the degradation this baby went through for two years of his life is incomprehensible," Lake County Superior Court Judge Diane Boswell said, according to the report.
A sister of the victim — one of as many as 10 children who lived with Choate and his wife in a trailer in Gary, Ind. — said that on the day of his death Christian had refused to eat, enraging his father, who punched the boy several times with "full force" before throwing him back in the cage, said the Tribune, citing court records.
Choate and his wife, Kimberly Kubina, the boy’s stepmother, were accused of burying the boy on their property and moving the family to Kentucky shortly thereafter, telling others that Christian had run away.
Deputy Prosecutor Michael Woods described Choate's abuse of Christian as persistent, cruel and depraved, according to a report in the Northwest Indiana Times.
"Christian Choate sat in that cage, losing his mind, losing his strength and probably his humanity,” Woods said, while his father sat at the desk next to the cage playing games on his computer, according to the report.
"There were many other children in this house. They all saw Christian suffer. Those images haunt their sleep and drive them back into counseling," the prosecutor said.
The boy’s body, buried under concrete with a Bible and a cross in the Gary, Ind. mobile home park, was found in May 2011.
"We feel very strongly that the system failed this child, this young man, Christian Choate," Lake County Indiana Sheriff John Buncich said at a press conference Friday. "The system failed him and a lot of information slipped through the crack and we feel his life could have been saved if things had been dealt with in a different manner."
In December, Choate pleaded guilty to a Class A felony for neglect of a dependent causing death, and felonies for moving the boy’s body and depriving his daughter, Christina, of an education. He also admitted to being a habitual offender for previous felony theft convictions, the Times said. In doing so, he avoided a jury trial on charges of murder, battery, criminal confinement and obstruction of justice. In the plea deal, he was sentenced to 80 years instead of a possible 120 if convicted of the original charges.
Before the sentencing on Friday, Choate apologized for his actions, the Chicago Tribune reported: "All my actions will haunt me forever. I loved my son."
Kubina, who was also charged with child abuse, divorced Choate in 2011 and cooperated in his prosecution. As a result, she is due to be released from jail in February, the Tribune said.
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Very sad for this beautiful boy child.....I can't imagine treating someone I despise this way. For sure couldn't understand treating a loved one like this. At least the poor baby is at rest. Out of pain.
I was so disturbed when I read the story about this poor little boy when he was first found. It makes me sick, just sick. I have a four-year-old and I just cannot bear the thought of her ever being treated like this. The poor little boy probably begged for his mommy and daddy to let him out, and they only responded with verbal and physical abuse, and starving him of the nutrients his body needed to allow him to go on. Then his father beats in his little head. WHY??? There is no reason ever good enough! HOW could anyone be such a worthless, disgusting and evil person? I'm not a hateful person, but I can't help but HATE these two pieces of sh** who did this to their precious and innocent little son. YOU TWO MAKE ALL OF US F***ING SICK!
This article is so sad I almost can't read it. Beaten regularly, put in a cage, and fed barely enough to stay alive. Every child born has the right to life and food, among other things. When you're an adult it's different but a child can't help it. Usually I'm against the death penalty but this guy just crosses the line. He really deserves the death penalty. The woman should have life in prison.
"I loved my son." Oh, really, a$$hole? Please prove it. OH WAIT. Too late, HE'S DEAD. You beat him to death, put him in a cage, and barely fed him enough to stay alive. That's some real love there, isn't it?
It is absolutely unacceptable that she is being released. She is just as guilty as he is. Regardless if she threw the punches or not, she allowed this child to be locked up and tortured. And who knows what she allowed to happen to the other children in the house. She was probably also a victim herself, but that does not mean that she shouldn't have to pay for what happened in that house.
The man should be given the death penalty and the mother too. Hung by the neck till they are dead - not even a humane way to die - they don't deserve it!!
Another angel has been sent to Heaven and two more monsters to Hell!
This is SO sad to read...to know a child was treated like this he had NO ONE to turn to the STUPID step mom should get the same time...because she allowed the father HER HUSBAND to commit this crime...There is no way I could sit back and allow anyone to do harm to a child who can't defend themselves....smh I pray for the other children.
Put this sob in a cage and feed him the same way he took care of his son. When he gets under 50 lbs. call me and I'll gladly finish him off the way he did his son. As far as the step Mom is concerned let's make that a cage for two. Same diet and I'll do her too. How she walks is beyond me with a short time in jail. All these "deals" that prosecutors and defenders make me sick! How could one make a deal on this mess? What have we become?
Choate
isn't that a jewish name?
I do not know what ethnicity it is, but this awful abuse occurs in ALL ethnicities, races, socio-economic groups, and so on.
What difference does it make warrren???
What does the origin of his name have to do with anything? The little boy's name was Christian...What's your point?
I say there ole chap lets put the two of them in dog cages for 79 years and 11 months then ask them how they like it feed them hound-dog dog food Alpo is to good for them
Anyone who believes in the Law Of Eternal Justice will feel sorry for the parents, for, "It were better for them that a millstone were hung about their necks and to be drowned in the depths of the sea, than to offend one of these, My little ones."
He said he LOVED the boy? NO WAY would you cage a beloved son or daughter. Some else was right too. To call this thing an animal insults the animal kingdom! Only Humans very sick minded scum would treat another like that. He probibly enjoyed beating him too. The other kids saw him and might have gotten their own share of it. The step mother could have reported him ANYTIME! Never did He would have been in jail so he could not have touched her but she did NOTHING until this caught up to them. She needs some time of her own. Those kids need help and pray none of them do as he did. Kids learn by their parents how to treat others. THIS was not the way.
Typically the way the Legal System works in Americe. A person puts a kid in a cage for 2 years and he gets the same cage for 80 years.
F A I L
Oh trust me - it's not the same cage. During those 80 years he will get 3 squares a day, excercise and probably whatever else he wants or needs. Definitely NOT the same cage.
Yes...Americans are outraged by a rape case in a moving bus in a third world country with few laws and fewer implementation of laws! This sort of thing, in a so-called civilized country with this kind of wealth, is disturbing. If you have been a social worker, a social researcher on women and children's issue in this country or just a sensitive caring insightful or intuitive person, you are shocked, disturbed and horrified at what you see, hear and observe everyday that most Americans do not pay attention to, or things that do not grab headlines. It is amazing how many social workers are still sane and continuing to work. What is shocking is how many of these cases are hard to investigate in Red States where privacy, conservative family values (with excessive family control) and guns everywhere make investigations difficult and dangerous. Unless these problems reach extreme situation it does not come to the notice of the police and public officials. You wonder, considering the crazy loons who have kids, and many of them, why having children or raising kids requires some kind of license to breed and parent. It takes a license to be a lawn mower, to get a gun, to drive a car and to play with your hair...but creeps, craps and crazies can have kids and be given plenty of authority to do what they want...especially in Red States. Make vasectomy, reproductive rights and license to parent mandatory...and only some people will be allowed to breed and parent. And most guys who respond to this article reveal how low their IQ and high amygdala (the primitive brain) is.
Wait a minute. This piece of crap should rot for his crime BUT not alone. Every grandparent, Aunt, Cousin, brother and sister as well as his own mother all deserve to share that cell block. In 2 years this child suffered and nobody cared. Nobody said "Hey, Wheres Christian?" Its his birthday. Its Christmas day. Its summer vacation." Nobody bothered to ask about this child? His father put his son in a cage like a dog but the rest of his family kept him there. They all deserve to rot together. I understand first hand being scared to come forward and face this monster, but someone had a chance to call the police, tell their mailman, write a note to a neighbor. It would have been easy to get help and remain anonymous. Instead, they allowed him to die and every one of them should share the punishment. He was just a baby and did nothing to deserve such hatred. Rest in Peace Christian. And the rest of you. God help you when you meet your maker.
The man gets 80 years in prison, the woman a slap on the wrist. Typical of our criminal justice system.
One correction to your post "criminal INjustice system"
A horrible example of inexplicable violence against a defenseless child. No doubt Dad was trying to get back at his Ex and took it out on the poor kid. If people have any doubts about who should or shouldn't be allowed to own a deadly weapon, they should keep a close watch on poor Christian's biological and step siblings. If ever there was a blueprint for building psychologically damaged kids, this horror story is it. I have always had misgivings about parents who are so hell-bent on home-schooling their children. What don't they want teachers and classmates to know about?
The first choice is the death penalty for the father. If he's deemed mentally ill (what other explanation could there be for this situation), then life in prison or a mental ward. He should be neutered also. His wife is a piece of work who also deserves life in prison/mental ward.
The boy was buried with a bible and a cross. The father is concerned for the boy's soul, apparently, but not his life. How twisted is that!
According to the local newspaper "Kubina. 47. pleaded guilty to neglect and faces 25 to 35 years at her Feb. 19 sentencing hearing."
Was an assault weapon used?
AQ...Go away with your obsessive thoughts regarding guns....
Only God may have mercy on this mortal's soul. But I doubt God will. May this SOB rot in hell.
I don't believe there is mercy for deystroying a child!
OK, I will say it again, the problem with this country is not guns, knives, or drunk drivers. It IS our court system. If the guy would have tourtured, starved and beat to death his dog he probably would have received roughly the same sentence. The old bat needs to be right in the cage with him.
Until our courts start to punish people fitting for the crime commited this will never stop
The ONLY good thing in this story is the other kids wont have to suffer and Christian is in heaven with God where he belongs, not in the hands of the devil.
I hope Choate lives every single day of those 80 years and then drops dead the moment he is released from prison! If ever there was a reason for the death penalty I think this would qualify, don't you?
yes. yes I do
@The Lammer
No, I think the death penalty is to good for this guy. I hope he lives a long life in prison and I hope he is raped, tortured and abuse daily and I hope the abusers whispers his son's name in his ear everytime.
KINKey and happy thought but more than likely it won't happen. the creep is 40 now. he may not make it to 80 himself. gee...what a shame that would be...sarcasm
Yes, of course. Little Christian deserves at least this much consideration. That poor darling child was starved and tortured and for what reasons??? Riley's twisted entertainment??? Riley should have had to give a full account of why he persisted in this sick torture against the boy before his sentencing.
What kind of demon can do such things to a wonderful and vibrant child? He stole the essence of life and joy from his own son, my god!
Well at least the jerk is out of general population he'll have warm cuddly prison relationships to foster for 80 years.
A sick SOB like that will probably enjoy it though.