Man Sentenced For Burning Infant

Prosecutors said there is no excuse for what a man did to a 5-month-old baby in Springfield.

Jason Overman, 25, was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for sticking the infant’s hand in a pot of boiling water last year.

Overman received the maximum sentence he could get; however, the child’s family is still not satisfied because she has permanent physical damage and emotional scars.

The child’s mother said she worries about the day that she will have to explain to her daughter what happened to her.

Overman told police that the incident was an accident. He said, “I bent over and her hand slipped into the pan.”

However, authorities said it was an intentional act against someone who was completely defenseless.

Andy Wilson with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office said, “The level of cruelty amazes me.”

Prosecutors said that on the morning after the 2009 Super Bowl, Overman was tired and intoxicated. They said he was supposed to be taking care of his girlfriend’s daughter, but that when the girl began to cry, Overman got angry.

Wilson said, “He grabbed her hand, put it in a pot of boiling water that he was using to cook some soup.”

The heat burned most of the skin on the baby’s hand. She spent months recovering; however, doctors discovered the damage was permanent.

The child’s mother, Jennarae Holleron, said. “She couldn’t crawl til she was 8 months old and couldn’t play with toys with her right hand.”

Overman pleaded guilty to a charge of child endangering; however, when the judge sentenced him on Thursday, Overman refused to accept responsibility.

He said, “This was all just an accident. It was not purposefully done.”

The child’s aunt, Mindy Holleron, said, “It’s hard to see no remorse. It is scary to see someone do that to a child and act like they don’t have a conscience.”

The child’s family said they will never be able to forgive Overman, who has changed their lives forever.

Even a year after several surgeries, the child still attends physical therapy three times a day. The family said she will never regain full use of her hand.