Delco man receives probation after assaulting and choking his grandson.

A recent court ruling has resulted in Carl Haner IV, a 69-year-old resident of Media, Pennsylvania, receiving an 18-month probation sentence following his conviction for assaulting his 11-year-old grandson. The case, which drew significant attention, was adjudicated in Delaware County under the presiding Judge Dominic Pileggi.

In August, a jury found Haner guilty of simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child after a troubling incident where he physically assaulted his grandson, dragging him upstairs, slamming his head against a wall, and squeezing his neck to the point of restricting the child’s breathing and vision. The jury, however, acquitted him of more severe accusations, including aggravated assault.

During the sentencing phase, Haner expressed deep remorse for his actions, claiming he never intended to inflict harm on his grandson. His attorney, Chris Boggs, advocated for a lesser sentence of one year of probation, suggesting that the distressing event was part of what he described as “the worst day of their lives” and not indicative of a chronic pattern of abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Bryan Barth recommended a more rigorous sentencing, proposing three years of probation. He acknowledged Haner’s efforts to seek treatment for alcoholism, which was cited as a contributing factor to the incident. Nonetheless, Barth emphasized the need for accountability and suggested that while incarceration was not warranted, Haner’s behavior warranted some form of disciplinary action.

In a display of familial concern, Rhea Kelsall, Haner’s 67-year-old wife, spoke during the sentencing, highlighting the couple’s loss of children to the opioid crisis and their subsequent commitment to raising two of their grandsons. Kelsall, who faced her own legal challenges for endangering child welfare but was acquitted, founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting grandparents in similar situations.

Throughout the proceedings, Kelsall and Haner’s relatives portrayed him as a dedicated family man and a volunteer in the community, underscoring his character and contributions outside the courtroom. As this case concludes with probation, it raises important considerations about familial responsibility, the impact of substance abuse, and the overarching need for protective measures for vulnerable children in similar circumstances.

The sentencing serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding child welfare cases and the balance courts strive to maintain between punishment and rehabilitation in instances of familial offenses.