Vancouver man who attempted to stomp baby sentenced

A Vancouver man who approached a couple and their newborn baby at Esther Short Park and attempted to stomp on the child was sentenced Wednesday to 14 months in prison.

Benjamin R. Courtney, 40, entered an “in re Barr” plea last week in Clark County Superior Court to third-degree assault of a child in connection with the Aug. 5 confrontation. The plea allows a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser related charge he didn’t commit in order to avoid conviction for a greater offense.

During Wednesday’s sentencing, a tearful Courtney denied trying to hurt the infant and said he was going after the father, whom he mistook as someone who had been causing trouble in the park.

“I do apologize for my actions. It was a misunderstanding,” he said.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the couple flagged down police at about 9:50 p.m. and pointed to a shirtless man, later identified as Courtney. They said he had tried to stomp on their 3-week-old son.

The couple said Courtney was screaming loudly and came toward them as they were seated on a park bench. He walked in front of them, lifted his leg and attempted to stomp on the baby, who was in a car seat, the affidavit states.

Courtney was reportedly yelling, “I’m Italian and angry!” court records said.

The boy’s mother “ripped” the car seat out of the way and began screaming for the child’s father to call 911. Courtney fled the scene, according to court documents.

When officers contacted Courtney, he appeared to be intoxicated and was yelling that he is Italian and “strong.” He later admitted to stomping on the ground near the child. When asked why he tried to stomp on the child, he said, “When we’re high-powered, we don’t stop,” according to a court document.

In addition to his prison sentence, Courtney will serve 12 months of community custody.