http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-ci...n_gets_26_years_for_torturing_3-year-old.html
Oregon City man gets 26 years for torturing 3-year-old
Derek Piskorski
By Rick Bella , The Oregonian
May 13, 2010, 11:40AM
OREGON CITY -- An Oregon City man was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for scalding, beating, burning and nearly drowning his girlfriend's 3-year-old son.
Clackamas County Circuit Judge Ronald D. Thom said Derek John Piskorski exhibited "sadism" while holding the boy underwater during baths and took no responsibility for torturing him.
"The only emotion I've seen in your expression is a feeling of being sorry for yourself," Thom said. "But I've seen little or any sympathy for (the boy) ...We will not ever tolerate this sort of behavior from you or anyone like you against the youth of this community."
Piskorski, 23, choked up as he spoke on his own behalf.
"I hope -- I don't know what will happen to his life -- that he has a future and has a lot of friends and does good in his life," said Piskorski, clad in jailhouse stripes. "I also hope you will see I'm a good person. I've made some mistakes in my life, and I'm sorry. I hope everybody can forgive me."
Piskorski was convicted May 7 of second-degree assault, criminal mistreatment and recklessly endangering another for abusing Noah Scheurman. According to trial testimony, Piskorski held Noah under scalding water until his skin was burned off, held his hands against a hot wall heater until his skin was branded, beat him with a belt buckle and held him submerged until he gasped for air.
The boy's mother, Katey Lynn Scheurman, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of criminal mistreatment for allowing Piskorski to abuse Noah. She is serving a six-month sentence in the Clackamas County Jail.
Prosecutor Chris Owen urged Thom to impose longer-than-usual sentences because of the horrific nature of the crimes. He noted that Piskorski has a history of violent crimes.
Defense attorney W. Bradford Jonasson Jr. said Piskorski learned his behavior during a tumultuous childhood, when impulsive actions seemed the norm. He urged Thom to make sure Piskorski would get "programming and treatment" for his behavior.
"What is learned can be un-learned -- and that's what needs to be done," Jonasson said.
In crafting the 26-year sentence, Thom ordered Piskorski to serve two 10-year sentences, a five-year sentence and a one-year sentence consecutively.
-- Rick Bella
Oregon City man gets 26 years for torturing 3-year-old
Derek Piskorski
By Rick Bella , The Oregonian
May 13, 2010, 11:40AM
OREGON CITY -- An Oregon City man was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for scalding, beating, burning and nearly drowning his girlfriend's 3-year-old son.
Clackamas County Circuit Judge Ronald D. Thom said Derek John Piskorski exhibited "sadism" while holding the boy underwater during baths and took no responsibility for torturing him.
"The only emotion I've seen in your expression is a feeling of being sorry for yourself," Thom said. "But I've seen little or any sympathy for (the boy) ...We will not ever tolerate this sort of behavior from you or anyone like you against the youth of this community."
Piskorski, 23, choked up as he spoke on his own behalf.
"I hope -- I don't know what will happen to his life -- that he has a future and has a lot of friends and does good in his life," said Piskorski, clad in jailhouse stripes. "I also hope you will see I'm a good person. I've made some mistakes in my life, and I'm sorry. I hope everybody can forgive me."
Piskorski was convicted May 7 of second-degree assault, criminal mistreatment and recklessly endangering another for abusing Noah Scheurman. According to trial testimony, Piskorski held Noah under scalding water until his skin was burned off, held his hands against a hot wall heater until his skin was branded, beat him with a belt buckle and held him submerged until he gasped for air.
The boy's mother, Katey Lynn Scheurman, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of criminal mistreatment for allowing Piskorski to abuse Noah. She is serving a six-month sentence in the Clackamas County Jail.
Prosecutor Chris Owen urged Thom to impose longer-than-usual sentences because of the horrific nature of the crimes. He noted that Piskorski has a history of violent crimes.
Defense attorney W. Bradford Jonasson Jr. said Piskorski learned his behavior during a tumultuous childhood, when impulsive actions seemed the norm. He urged Thom to make sure Piskorski would get "programming and treatment" for his behavior.
"What is learned can be un-learned -- and that's what needs to be done," Jonasson said.
In crafting the 26-year sentence, Thom ordered Piskorski to serve two 10-year sentences, a five-year sentence and a one-year sentence consecutively.
-- Rick Bella
