Comer Watkins, 3 yo, laid unconcious for 19 hours

[Whisper]

Boyfriend charged in death of toddler
APRIL 15 2010
Griffith boy, 3, died of severe head and genital injuries
For 19 hours, 3-year-old Comer Watkins lay unconscious in his Griffith apartment from severe head and genital injuries.
When the toddler's mother came home from work at 2 p.m. Monday, the toddler was unresponsive.
An ambulance rushed him to Community Hospital in Munster, then airlifted him to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, where authorities determined his injures were the result of severe physical abuse.
At 12:02 p.m. Tuesday, Comer was pronounced dead.
Court records indicate the boy died as a result of child abuse, but Griffith police Detective Lt. Don McCarter said an autopsy hadn't been conducted as of Wednesday afternoon.
The man who was supposed to be caring for the child, Levi Edward Hiatt, 26, of the 1700 block of North Arbogast Street, Griffith, faces three counts of neglect of a dependent in Lake Superior Court in Crown Point.
The charges are punishable by a maximum 50-year sentence.
Hiatt, the boyfriend of Comer's mother, is being held at the Lake County Jail.
Hiatt initially lied to police and said he'd accidentally dropped the child while playing with him, and his legs went on either side of a child safety rail on the bed.
During a subsequent interview, Hiatt said he laid Comer down for a nap on Sunday, and around 7 p.m. he went into his bedroom and jumped high into the air to land on his bed to awaken the boy, according to court records.
Hiatt said he misjudged his landing and landed his right knee into the boy's genitals very hard.
Hiatt told police he rushed the screaming, crying child into the bathroom to check for injuries.
He sat Comer down in front of the bathtub and told him to pull down his pants, but the boy continued to scream and cry.
Hiatt said he became frustrated and panicked.
He grabbed the boy's lower legs and pulled him forward "with considerable force," causing the child to fall backward, court records state.
The back of the child's head hit the top side of the bathtub and the child fell to the floor, striking his head again and knocking him unconscious.

Instead of calling 911, Hiatt said he iced the boy's genitals, put a diaper on him, dressed him in his pajamas and laid him on his bed.

The boy's mother left for work at about 4 p.m. Sunday and got home after midnight. She got up at 10:30 a.m. Monday and left for work about an hour later while her son was sleeping, which she told police was not uncommon.
[...]
Court records indicate the child had retinal hemorrhages, swelling and bleeding in the brain, acute traumatic injury to the penis and multiple bruises along the spinal column and extremities.lake superior court http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2160344,hiatt0415.article

Medical Examiner rules Griffith boy's death a homicide
APRIL 17 2010
Head injuries killed 3-year-old[/CENTER]
CROWN POINT | The Cook County Medical Examiner declared the death of 3-year-old Comer Watkins a homicide, a spokeswoman for the office said Friday.
The child died of a subdural hematoma resulting from a head trauma due to child abuse, according to autopsy results.
Court records contend the child was left untended in an unconscious state for 19 hours after suffering two blows to his head, severe injuries to his genitals and bruising to his right leg and back.
[...]
Though initiated Wednesday, charges against Hiatt were not finalized by the Lake County Clerk's office until Thursday morning.
Prosecutors charged Hiatt with three felony counts of neglect of a dependent. Hiatt faces a maximum 50-year prison sentence if convicted.
Court documents show police were called about 2 p.m. Monday to an address on the 1700 block of North Arbogast Street, where Hiatt shared a home with the child's mother.
[...]
Rescinding earlier statements, Hiatt told police he jumped high in the air to land on the child's bed and awaken him from a nap. Hiatt said he misjudged his landing and hit the child in the genitals as he came down on the bed, court records show. Becoming frustrated with the crying child, Hiatt said he pulled the child forward by the legs causing the boy to fall backward and hit his head on the bathtub and then on the floor.
Hiatt is alleged to have chosen not to call for help or inform his girlfriend of the child's condition for 19 hours before calling 911.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Friday that given Watkins' ruling, his office planned to meet with Griffith police next week to discuss possible additional charges against Hiatt.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_00f485ad-bc35-56d1-9050-2346e4c19348.html



Man appears in court in death of 3-year-old
APRIL 24 2010
A man charged with neglect of a dependent in the death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old son in Griffith appeared in court Friday with his attorney.
Levi Edward Hiatt, 26, of the 200 block of West 7th Place, pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of neglect of a dependent while represented by defense attorney James Thiros.
The most serious of the felonies carries a maximum 50-year sentence.
Hiatt posted $10,000 bond in the case on April 15 after he was charged in the death of Comer Watkins. The Cook County, Ill., medical examiner's office ruled Comer's death a homicide.
Authorities said the toddler lay unconscious in an apartment shared by Hiatt and the boy's mother in the 1700 block of North Argobast Street for 19 hours before the mother came home.
The boy died April 13 from head trauma due to child abuse.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said additional charges could be filed against Hiatt, but no decision had been made Friday afternoon.
[...]http://www.post-trib.com/news/2194390,hiatt0424.article

[TwiztidAngel]

Hiatt said he misjudged his landing and landed his right knee into the boy's genitals very hard.
Hiatt told police he rushed the screaming, crying child into the bathroom to check for injuries.
He sat Comer down in front of the bathtub and told him to pull down his pants, but the boy continued to scream and cry.
Hiatt said he became frustrated and panicked.
He grabbed the boy's lower legs and pulled him forward "with considerable force," causing the child to fall backward, court records state.
The back of the child's head hit the top side of the bathtub and the child fell to the floor, striking his head again and knocking him unconscious.

Instead of calling 911, Hiatt said he iced the boy's genitals, put a diaper on him, dressed him in his pajamas and laid him on his bed.

yeah i can see it happening this way....heartless bastard!

[Valasca]

I'm a rather big woman. Let ME misjudge where my knee goes.

[CasperGirl]

Alot of the mommy supporters on the first news link

[LadyCygnet]

Instead of calling 911, Hiatt said he iced the boy's genitals, put a diaper on him, dressed him in his pajamas and laid him on his bed.

Uh huh. That's totally what person who caused "accidental" injury to a child THREE TIMES would do.


The boy's mother left for work at about 4 p.m. Sunday and got home after midnight. She got up at 10:30 a.m. Monday and left for work about an hour later while her son was sleeping, which she told police was not uncommon.

And she didn't notice anything amiss when she checked on him after she got home from work Sunday night/Monday morning? She did check on her baby when she got home, just because she works such long hours and missed him, right?


The charges are punishable by a maximum 50-year sentence.

Not nearly enough.

Munster was a charming little town going downhill when I lived in Lansing...Griffith? Eh, it was all right, but it was going downhill faster, thanks to both towns being so close to Gary. I still have friends that live out that way.

[Whisper]

COMER COSMOR WATKINS V HOBART,
IN Comer Cosmor Watkins V, age 3 of Hobart, passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, IL surrounded by family and friends. He was born January 1, 2007 in Merrillville and was the first baby of the year to bless the region. Comer is survived by his compassionate and loving mother, Stephanie Smith of Hobart; father, Comer Watkins IV of Hobart; grandparents: Laura and James Graham of Crown Point, Lucy Watkins of Hobart and Jerome Sims of Crown Point; loving aunts: Corey (Derek) Zaverl of Hobart and Sgt. Rachel (late Specialist Ryan) King of Atlanta, GA; numerous caring aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by great grandparents: Charles H. Wimmer and Jean (Rose) Bodoki. Comer was a loving son and grandson who lit up the room with his smile and charm. He loved spending time with his family, pets and toys. Thomas the Train was his favorite character and friend who inspired his love of trains. Comer was able to help many children as an organ donor for the Gift of Hope. Funeral services will be held p.m. Monday, April 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home, 701 E. 7th St., Hobart, IN with Rev. Theodore J. Mens officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00-7:00 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family would graciously accept monetary donations. A portion of any donations will be made to The Blue Lighthouse Ministries, an organization that supports and educates the public about Shaken Baby Syndrome. www.burnsfuneral .comhttp://www.funeraldigest.com/obituaries/?id=141913549

[LadyCygnet]

It's super-sad. I've been able to track down the myspace for Comer V's mother Stephanie Smith (http://www.myspace.com/stephanie82887), Comer IV (http://www.myspace.com/484324715) (he hasn't been on since 6/26/09) and his cousin Mandy (http://www.myspace.com/StoneColdBitch316). Comer IV's cousin has a ton of pictures of Comer V (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=43306320&albumId=1198706), and Stephanie has some pictures of Comer V (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=408315565&albumId=849497), too, though not quite as many. I hope they both leave them up and open to the public so that everyone can see what Levi Hiatt stole from the rest of the world. I wonder why Comer IV didn't take Comer V when his mother was working? They all live in the same cluster of suburbs of Chicago in NW Indiana--it's not as if it would have been a huge drive at all--and if that didn't work, it looks like they both had a lot of family in the area, too.

Thanks for the correction, CPMommy.

[Silvahalo]

I wonder too did the mother not check on her child at all during that time period of 19 hours as she came home from work? Surely, she would have seen bruises, discover he was not breathing. Saddens me deeply thinking little Comer probably died crying for mama, closing his eyes forever.

This is what baby killer took from our world. A precious child just coming into his own, better knowing the world around him. Comer was a sweet child who loved spending time with his family, pets and toys. Thomas the Train was his favorite character and friend who inspired his love of trains. His life was stolen, taken from him likely for being a child. Now that brilliant smile shines only in the heavens. So sorry baby Comer, you deserved a full life to be cherished and loved.

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/FallenAngels2/ComerCosmorWatkinsV.jpg

[LadyCygnet]

Aw, damn--I was hoping that Stephanie Smith just happened to hit the loser boyfriend roulette, and this was just a one-time thing, but...


Ann Houseworth, spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Child Services, confirmed the agency has an open assessment into allegations of abuse or neglect of the Griffith boy. She declined further comment, noting she cannot discuss specifics of any ongoing assessments.

Source article from NWI.com (http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_a28d0d3a-8b3b-5aea-a686-48d7e6fc8975.html?mode=story)

It makes me sad because the dad's sister is going to bat to defend the mom, and it seems as though they managed to work out their differences and become friends for Comer's sake. It seems that Stephanie was working two jobs, and Levi...wasn't. I'd hate to think that Levi made a habit of knocking Comer around.

[Whisper]

outta thanks but ty great job with the pics and info!!

[thehesbomb]

There's a couple of pictures that make me think maybe his life wasn't peaches and cream. Maybe the mother wasn't aware of the abuse (and I'm skeptical) but she sure doesn't seem like a bright bulb (pics of him chewing a dog treat, curling iron, eyeliner). There are also a few pictures - one with a fat lip, one with an IV, one with scratches all over his face...and yeah, kids are clumsy but given the way things ended...it definitely makes me wonder.

[nopatience]

omg.... omg.... omg, I really wish I hadn't clicked this one. It physically made me cringe and shudder reading what that poor boy's injuries were! RIP little one and hurt no more. May the one responsible for this have an ever so painful and torturous existence til the day they die!!!

[LadyCygnet]

There's a couple of pictures that make me think maybe his life wasn't peaches and cream. Maybe the mother wasn't aware of the abuse (and I'm skeptical) but she sure doesn't seem like a bright bulb (pics of him chewing a dog treat, curling iron, eyeliner). There are also a few pictures - one with a fat lip, one with an IV, one with scratches all over his face...and yeah, kids are clumsy but given the way things ended...it definitely makes me wonder.

Yeah, those are instances when I would be taking the objects away from the child and saying, "No," not taking pictures.

And they also had pets at his father's house and his mother's house, from what I can tell, and some kids are accident-prone...but if you take all that and add in the fact that there was already an investigation pending before his death, and it doesn't seem all that innocent anymore.

[TwiztidAngel]

fuck shes a juggahoe...like we need MORE bad rep :banghead:

i hate style jockers

and ps she dont take the messages in the songs very well....child beating is very frowned upon...even if she wasnt the one to deliver the blows, she sure was negligent as far as checking in on her baby when she came home from work....how had is it to take 30 seconds to make sure your kid is sleeping comfortably...jeez /rant off

[Laurenthian]

This is horrible. My god, the pain that kid went through. Was he an only? Some of the mom's pics included other kids, but didn't indicate if they were nieces/nephews or the POS boyfriend's kids.

Best case scenario, we have an overwhelmed young mother who was working all the time and honestly didn't notice anything suspicious OR accepted the boyfriend's excuses. The best case scenario seems far fetched, unfortunately.

[Athena]

I'm not comfortable with the judgment geared toward mom at this point, with the lack of definitive information.

For a parent working two jobs, coming home at midnight, checking on one's child could be as much as poking ones head into the room to make sure he/she is in there and asleep. If she had no reason to suspect foul play (i.e., boyfriend didn't say anything to concern her), why would she do more than that?


Surely, she would have seen bruises, discover he was not breathing. Saddens me deeply thinking little Comer probably died crying for mama, closing his eyes forever.

He was unconscious, not dead. He wasn't pronounced dead until nearly 24 hours after being taken to the hospital.

This mom clearly realized something was wrong when her child was supposed to be awake and wasn't during the day. I can't blame her for not noticing anything in the middle of the night.

[Silvahalo]

Meh, not really blaming mom, just an observation really, and I don't know how she exactly checked or did not check on her child. I figure if she did with in the 19 hour period, between jobs, you go in and check on your baby not just poke your head in, I think most mom's would agree on that. Just my opinion tho. And yeah, he was unconscious but probably near death already to bad she didn't notice him beat and dying.

The fucker who beat Comer to death is the one I'd like to see his head on a stick.

[MadeaBecBec]

I believe Comer wasn't pronounced dead until, after the decision to donate his organs was made, but his little spirit had already left this earth when he was taken to the hospital. I'm not sure, if Mom checking on him would've made a difference, just sad to think that she didn't and now she will constantly wonder. It does bug me that three days after his death she posted "Let the fun begin" on her myspace status.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff307/MadeaBecBec/Mugshots/Victims/ComerWatkinsVkilledbypenislevihiatt.jpg
Comer Watkins V

This happiness and sweetness will nevermore grace this earth. I am deeply saddened by that, we will never know what Comer V would have become, might he have discovered a cure for cancer or a comedian that kept us laughing!
Too many boyfriends killing children, Why?

[LadyCygnet]

I believe Comer wasn't pronounced dead until, after the decision to donate his organs was made, but his little spirit had already left this earth when he was taken to the hospital. I'm not sure, if Mom checking on him would've made a difference, just sad to think that she didn't and now she will constantly wonder. It does bug me that three days after his death she posted "Let the fun begin" on her myspace status.

I hope it was sarcasm on her part...or maybe she or someone she knows is going to have a "hot" date with evil Hiatt and an arc welder.

[Tundratot]

Poor little guy.

This fun-loving, rouseabout guy had all the brain cells of a door knob. If we can accept his tale at face value, he jumps on a little boy, hits him in the gonads with his knee, landing with force not just on the child's genitals, but on the pelvis and lower spine; then, he compounds the problem by standing the boy up in the bathroom, pulling his legs out from under him, and causing him to fall -- on his butt, whacking his head on the bath. So now the kid has injuries to his upper and lower spine and skull, and god know what else! BUT, and this is the most important thing to Levi High-it, the kid was quiet then.

This is the guy who would put out a fire by throwing gas on it!

Hell, face it, High-it, you were high as a kite, lacking the judgment of a brick, and an incompetent thumb-thumb at the very best. At worst, you are a jealous, lying, violent, sponging sack of puss-laced fecal matter wrapped in skin whose only concern was eradicating the most engaging and intimidating male rival in the house.

[AussieMum]

That would have to be the most bizarre excuse I've heard.

AND who the hell would consider waking a child by full on jumping on the bed anyhow!!!!

[momof3]

That would have to be the most bizarre excuse I've heard.

AND who the hell would consider waking a child by full on jumping on the bed anyhow!!!!

No one but a meth'd out druggie without any shred of common sense.

Did any one else notice the yellowish coloring on his forehead and under his beautiful left eye? Wonder if this jackhole was in his life already when this pic was taken.

[momof3]

Oops posted my comment twice...Is there a way to delete posts?

[CPMOMMY]

Really? All of you, that assume you know the story, shame on you for judging. You can say all you want about levi because he is the "monster"
some of you are making assumptions off of myspace? 1st - stephanie is a great mother, baby comer was the love of her life, she did everything for comer!!! And she is suffering soooo much now, her baby was brutally taken from her while she was busting her butt working 2 jobs. 2nd - she knew levi for years and even helped him with his 18 month old son. He was never violent toward his baby, comer or her, so this was the unthinkable.
3rd - comer iv girlfriend is not mandy, that is his cousin and she posted all those pics after comer passed.

Comer was all boy, sweet and innocent yet he could be tough and rough when playing. He and my boys have had alot of bruises from playing and tumbling and knocking their big bobble heads on furniture "but they are boys"

the open assessment into the child abuse was from this incident only, until they got the autopsy back and more details from the hospital and p.d. It was considered ongoing.

She checked on him but didn't wake him. She saw he was breathing made sure he was covered and went to bed. And now she keeps saying what if, what if?

This is something she has to live with for the rest of her life, and it is the hardest thing in the world for her!!!!!! The papers don't tell the whole story and unless you know any of them you don't know all the facts, so you should just let her be. We all need to focus on the real concern, to protect children from abuse and that levi is punished to the max for what he has done. This was no accident, he beat a 3 year old, put a diaper on him with ice in it, dressed him in his pajamas to hide what he did, did not call 911, did not ask for help and did not tell comer's mom and went to bed while comer slipped farther and farther away from his family.

[Whisper]

I really dont see anyone attacking the mom,in fact ive seen everyone saying how hard she worked
As for Levi,this is a shaming site,we shame people that beat,abuse,rape and murder and he did that and we want to see him prosecuted to the fullest
My heart and prayers are with the mom and her family Comer was a beautiful boy
Thats why I started this thread on him b/c I saw how much he was loved and shocked we hadnt seen this story before I did

[koochie]

it is very bizarre the mother didnt check in him..i have a 6 yr almost 7 and i check on him if i get up during the night..ill walk into his room pull up his blanket or a kiss on the cheek..

she left again at 10:30 am and the boy wasnt awake? that seems unrealistic to me..i have kids and neices and nephews who have never slept until that time in the am. i would have to think he had head swelling by that time if he "hit it that hard on the bathtub"...

poor little baby i hope you sleep well with the angels.

[CPMOMMY]

it is very bizarre the mother didnt check in him..i have a 6 yr almost 7 and i check on him if i get up during the night..ill walk into his room pull up his blanket or a kiss on the cheek..

she left again at 10:30 am and the boy wasnt awake? that seems unrealistic to me..i have kids and neices and nephews who have never slept until that time in the am. i would have to think he had head swelling by that time if he "hit it that hard on the bathtub"...

poor little baby i hope you sleep well with the angels.

She checked on him but didn't wake him. She saw he was breathing made sure he was covered and went to bed.

[Whisper]

And thats exactly what I used to do when I cvame in from work and mine were sleeping
make sure they were breathing and covered
sometimes just peeked from the door so I didnt wake them up

[CasperGirl]

Mommy didn't notice the head trauma when she checked on him???????

[penelopejo]

Mommy didn't notice the head trauma when she checked on him???????

Would you turn on the light to the room to see if your child was covered well or use the light from the hallway?

[CasperGirl]

it was 1030 in the morning I guess the baby was in a room without a window

[Marv]

She checked on him but didn't wake him. She saw he was breathing made sure he was covered and went to bed.


She got up at 10:30 a.m. Monday and left for work about an hour later while her son was sleeping, which she told police was not uncommon.


Ok, so she checked on him when she got in at midnight, but didn't disturb him. Understandable.

But didn't she check on him before she went to work the next morning? (11.30ish and a 3yr old is still not up and about? Really?)

If she did look in on him, didn't she think it strange that he had not moved or changed position? Given that he was unconcious, I doubt he would have moved much, if at all. She may not have seen any signs of tauma the previous night, in the dark. But she would surely have seen something in the light of almost noon.

Clearly the vile creature who battered little Comer to death is the one who deserves the wrath and punishment. That goes without saying. But I still don't understand how the mother could spend so much time away from her beautiful 3yr old child, and not go in and kiss him, or whatever, before she leaves for work. :dontknow:

[Tundratot]

Stephanie Smith's last words to her 3-year-old son were "I love you. I'll be back soon."

She then kissed her little boy's forehead and left for work at Best Buy in Highland.

When she returned home late that night, Smith peeked on her sleeping son. She patted his butt and smelled the familiar lavender lotion on his tiny body. All seemed fine, so she went to bed.

She had to leave for work again the next morning and when she did, she again peeked on her sleeping son, Comer Watkins V. Again, all seemed fine, she thought.

"He was a very sound sleeper so I figured he was just more tired than usual," explained Smith, 22, who was living in the Mansards apartment complex in Griffith last month.

. . .

He was found unconscious from severe head and genital injuries, including retinal hemorrhages, swelling and bleeding in the brain, acute traumatic injury to the penis, and multiple bruises along the spinal column and extremities.

Hiatt, who dated and lived with Smith, faces three counts of neglect of a dependent. Yet, somehow, he is now out of jail on bond, and possibly living back in Hobart, his hometown.

"Why would he do this to my baby boy?" asked Smith through sobs as she wrapped herself in a blanket on the couch of her mother's Crown Point home. "Comer was the sweetest little boy."

Smith's mother, Laura Graham, added, "He was our little angel."

. . .

The bright-eyed boy could recite his ABCs and count to 20 by the age of 2. His favorite movie was "Madagascar," and his favorite song was "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley.

"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right," Comer would sing word for word to his mother, grandmother or anyone who would listen.

Comer had a little game with his grandpa, James Graham, who would often greet the boy by asking, "Where's my hug?" Comer would always reply coyly, "It's in my pocket."

When Comer learned that everyone in his family had a job, he created his own by working in a pretend castle and "beating up all the bad guys."

His grandmother had hopes of him working as a train engineer someday, since Thomas the Tank Engine was his favorite character. The two of them also worked together by snapping fresh green beans in her kitchen and pulling weeds in her lawn.

He also enjoyed building forts, riding his battery-powered Jeep, talking a blue streak to anyone, and memorizing his mother's cell phone number and his own birth date.

"He was our joy," Graham told me last week at her home. "We're trying to understand why (Hiatt) would do something like this to such a sweet boy."

. . .

In hindsight, the family is suspicious that Hiatt may have abused Comer in previous baby-sitting situations, although the boy never said anything.

"When I would ask about a bruise I saw, he would say he fell down or something like that, but he would also look over at Levi," Graham said. "We'll never know for sure."

Such second-guessing is haunting Smith, Graham, and other relatives who are now waiting for a June 16 court hearing for Hiatt. They've been told it will be continued, though, and a restraining order has been placed against Hiatt, they said.

He hasn't contacted Smith, offered an explanation to the family or an apology. . . .
"He's already told different stories to police," Smith said.

At first, the family thought Comer fell into a diabetic coma. Only later were they told about the alleged abuse, neglect and conflicting explanations.

On the morning Hiatt watched Comer while Smith worked, he called her at Best Buy to say he couldn't wake up the boy. Hiatt also called 911.

"He put on a good show for us," Smith said.

But not too good, Graham noted, saying he looked "guilty as hell."

. . .

Comer's family loved him so much they cremated his body and separated his ashes into four tiny urns that now dangle on necklaces around the necks of Smith, Graham, and his beloved aunties, Corey Zaverl and Rachel King.

"Now, he will always be close to our hearts," Graham explained while clutching her necklace and holding a photo of a smiling, giggling Comer.

Smith is taking it one step further by getting a tattoo of Comer's handprint and footprint on her left arm, as well as the prayer card from his funeral. It's in the works in purple ink, a complimentary gift from the Crazy Cat Tat shop in Whiting.

. . .http://www.post-trib.com/news/davich/2279072,new-jdavich-0507.article

What a beast! And he's out of bail, believed to be in his home town, Hobart. I expect he's keeping a very low profile. Snipers might be watching.

[Aena]

Somebody seriously needs to bust this guy in the balls, let him sit like that for 19 hrs then cut them off with no anesthetic.

[CasperGirl]

I still don't understand how the Mom didn't see the severe head injuries if she peeked in on him before she left for work that late morning? I just don't get it. I am not trying to blame the Mom for what happened, but I just don't get it.

[redsaid]

"Comer's family loved him so much they cremated his body and separated his ashes into four tiny urns that now dangle on necklaces around the necks of Smith, Graham, and his beloved aunties, Corey Zaverl and Rachel King.

"Now, he will always be close to our hearts," Graham explained while clutching her necklace and holding a photo of a smiling, giggling Comer."

(with my bottom lip quivering) Bless the angels who still walk among us

[Whisper]

I have no thanks but ty for the comments
Im torn I have been known to open door and peek in when I returned from work
From the hallway ,you dont want to wake them,you shouldnt have to come home during the night from work and have to strip search your child before you go to bed to prove your a good mom
I can fully see peeking in making sure they are covered and breathing and that was good enough for me
The sleeping in Heaven was a sleeper 1st xmas we had millions of excited relatives over to see her first xmas
I woke her up at almost noon

[redsaid]

I can totally see that too. You probably checked in every so often, though. But 19 hours is a long time to not notice he's not hungry, needs a change, not crying etc. It sounds like the baby and mom were in the same home for at least 10 hours and mom didn't feed or change him. She says that's normal? Is it normal for a 3 year old to sleep 10 hours with no crying or rustlin' around?

[Whisper]

yeah i had to go back and reread it
I was under the impression she came in late from work and left again earlier before he was awake
If she was home and didnt bother to check him the next day thats different

[redsaid]

It was an honest question, I had to re-read it too. Havin' said that, I think if it is normal for him to sleep all that time, there was something wrong?

[Marv]

She checked on him but didn't wake him. She saw he was breathing made sure he was covered and went to bed.


It has just occured to me that that is a strange comment to make, really. If she was close enough to see that he was breathing (in the poor light from the hall, or whatever), then surely she was close enough to see something was wrong? That his breathing was too shallow/deep/strange/laboured? That his head was lumped up? That his skin was discoloured? (which would surely lead to a closer inspection to see what the discolouration was?)


Maybe she didn't really check on him at all that night, or before she left for work the next day, and is just saying she did and he was fine because she feels guilty now. Maybe she was tired when she got in, and maybe she was running a bit late in the morning and was secretly relieved that he wasn't up and pestering her while she rushed around getting ready.

Oh crap, I don't know. Maybe this and maybe that. The fact remains that this little child lay there, dying alone, for 19hrs before anyone noticed.

[AussieMum]

I checked my kids are breathing... u can see the bed cover moved up and down ever so slightly. I wouldn't see their skin discolored though.

[CplPunishment]

I really dont see anyone attacking the mom,in fact ive seen everyone saying how hard she worked
As for Levi,this is a shaming site,we shame people that beat,abuse,rape and murder and he did that and we want to see him prosecuted to the fullest
My heart and prayers are with the mom and her family Comer was a beautiful boy
Thats why I started this thread on him b/c I saw how much he was loved and shocked we hadnt seen this story before I did

Well said Well said. Please keep up the good work.

May Levi rot in hell for what he has done.

[redsaid]

Shame on Levi...

[sinfulplezurz702]

This right here had me in tears, literally. All of these stories are so sad, but my god, this poor poor sweet precious lil baby,

[Silvahalo]

"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be all right," Comer would sing word for word...But things weren't all right for little Comer that night, were they? What the mother did or didn't do isn't really the point either.
She's not the one that killed little Comer, put his battered body to bed to die.
Besides what we do as mother's or think what we might have done in her place, and scrutinize her behavior, it's really
about seeing the last chance that Comer might have had, the if she'd only noticed moment, as his life lay ticking away...

Our children are our most precious treasures in life, and I like to believe that is exactly what he was to his family, each in their own way loving him. I want to take my sadness and deep sorrow over Comers death and put it in the heart of his killer so that he might truly know how he's devastated not only mother and family but mere strangers, people who never set an eye on him but only through pictures.

I give only my deepest sympathies, and heartfelt prayers, that mother and family find light again in their lives as the darkness begins to part.
Rest in peace sweet Comer, you were loved.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/abused%20children/718d0b8f.jpg

[AussieMum]

I think the poor mother is going to spend the rest of her life saying what if. Could she have saved him had she gone and kissed him for example. I would be forever beating myself up... but really, if she trusted her partner, she had no reason to go in and risk disturbing her sleeping son.

HE DID IT. He is the one that needs to rot.

[Marv]

I think the poor mother is going to spend the rest of her life saying what if. Could she have saved him had she gone and kissed him for example. I would be forever beating myself up... but really, if she trusted her partner, she had no reason to go in and risk disturbing her sleeping son.

HE DID IT. He is the one that needs to rot.



Ann Houseworth, spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Child Services, confirmed the agency has an open assessment into allegations of abuse or neglect of the Griffith boy.


Would you have trusted this guy to care for your child? Or would you 100% trust your partner if there were already grounds for the DCS to have an 'open assessment' into allegations of abuse on your child? How long had she been with this guy? What about the other photo's of little Comer with visible injuries?

Levi is the one who did it, and he deserves the wrath - no doubt about that. But I'm sick of reading about mothers who are seemingly oblivious to their childs injuries, choosing to believe their new partners excuses over what they must surely know in their hearts to be the truth!

[Silvahalo]

... But I'm sick of reading about mothers who are seemingly oblivious to their childs injuries, choosing to believe their new partners excuses over what they must surely know in their hearts to be the truth!I completely agree Marve. Mother's are the first line of defense in keeping their children safe from harm. I do question a lot on this case and some of it does involve the mother, actually most of my question would be addressed to her.

But if you ask me, I would have checked on my child far differently. Especially if I worked two jobs and didn't hear or see him in the early a.m., IMO it is very odd for a child of 3 yo to not be up and around before 11am. I would have been in that room pulling blankets off of him to see if he was OK, 'cause that's me and I get nervous if my children are "offish" from their normal schedule. My kiddo's don't sleep past 8am, heck almost always up by 7am, 11am would be crazy late. Maybe not so unusual for Comer but giving that mom was gone from a long work shift, I would have been in there wanting to hug and kiss baby good-bye before heading off to work again.

[redsaid]

'cause that's me and I get nervous if my children are "offish" from their normal schedule.

Hell, I'm callin' for my kitties if their not there first thing in the mornin' and when I get home at night!


I would have been in there wanting to hug and kiss baby good-bye before heading off to work again.

And when I got home the night before.

I just can't see missin' so much. I wasn't there, but I just can't see it.

[cubby]

At my house, and granted this was about 25-30 years ago, I was the primary caregiver for my children even tho their daddy was right there in the house with us. If I were leaving to go anywhere in the morning It would be my job to make sure the kids were up dressed and fed breakfast before I left. Daddy was there and fully capable but he is lazy and I couldn't count on him to feed them food and not Little Debbie cakes and he would let them run naked if that's what made them happy. And, too, both of mine got up in the morning with the chickens, I was woke up plenty of times with a little fellow on the bed yelling, "Wake up, Mama, it's light time".

So, no, I don't understand her not waking him up and giving him breakfast, to get some time with him before she left.

[Tundratot]

A murder charge has been filed against a Hobart man already charged with neglect of a dependent in the death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.

Levi Edward Hiatt, 27, of the 200 block of West 7th Place, was immediately taken into custody on the murder charge filed in Lake Superior Court Tuesday. Hiatt had been free on a $10,000 bond posted the day after the original charges were filed in the death of Comer Watkins.

In Indiana, bail isn’t granted in murder cases unless there is a petition to let bail filed on Hiatt’s behalf.

Defense attorney James Thiros had filed a motion to continue Hiatt’s jury trial, which had been scheduled to begin June 6. Trial supervisor Angela Brown and deputy prosecutor Reginald Marcus objected to the delay, but Lake Superior Court Judge pro tem Susan Severtson granted the request.

Hiatt’s trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 26.

The new charge alleges that Hiatt knowingly or intentionally killed Watkins between April 11, 2010 and April 12, 2010. Hiatt has pleaded not guilty.http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/5701828-418/hobart-mans-neglect-charges-upgraded-to-murder.html

[redsaid]

Finally. I still feel so bad for this lil babe layin there so long in such pain. This guy should fry. I'll reserve my thoughts on mom when I get more info from the trial.....

[MinorAbrasions]

At first, the family thought Comer fell into a diabetic coma. Only later were they told about the alleged abuse, neglect and conflicting explanations.

It doesn't make sense to me that they would see bruises and think "diabetic coma". It makes me wonder if there were any visible bruises that the family could see.

[Tundratot]

The murder trial of a Hobart man charged in the death of his former girlfriend’s son has been postponed.

Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell granted the delay sought by defense attorney James Thiros, who hired forensic pathologist John Cavanaugh as a medical expert last week for the trial of Levi Edward Hiatt, which had been scheduled to start Monday. . . .

Hiatt had been free on bond until prosecutors upgraded the charges May 31 to include murder. Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan denied a petition to allow bail in the case.http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/8392799-418/trial-postponed-in-case-of-man-accused-of-killing-toddler.html

Brilliant move, waiting a week before the trial starts to hire a defense expert witness. WTF happened to getting your experts on the case when the body was still available and unburied? Scumsucking . . .

[Whisper]

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/8392799-418/trial-postponed-in-case-of-man-accused-of-killing-toddler.html

Brilliant move, waiting a week before the trial starts to hire a defense expert witness. WTF happened to getting your experts on the case when the body was still available and unburied? Scumsucking . . .

I agree but also I kinda like the fact hes sitting in there wondering whats going to happen and times ticking away
Time Comer didnt get to have and neither should this POS

[Tundratot]

Jurors were selected Monday in the trial of a Griffith man who is charged with murder and child neglect in the 2010 death of his girlfriend's young son.

Levi Hiatt, 28, is accused of killing 3-year-old Comer Watkins, who was in his care for periods of time April 11 and April 12 while the boy's mother was at work. . . .

Prosecutors initially charged Hiatt with four counts of child neglect, punishable by a maximum of 50 years in prison if convicted.

Court records show prosecutors added a murder charge just before going to trial last June, expanding the possible maximum sentence to 65 years upon conviction.

The trial continues with opening statements Wednesday before Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/griffith/slaying-of-griffith-boy-goes-to-trial/article_77e1d397-639d-518e-a367-976d2dae6e36.html

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/20120223-01.jpg
The murder and neglect trial of a Hobart man charged in the death of a 3-year-old Griffith boy ended abruptly with the defendant firing his attorney.

Levi Edward Hiatt, 28, who has pleaded not guilty in Lake Superior Court in the death of Comer Watkins, abruptly fired defense attorney James Thiros on Wednesday morning after jurors had been told to arrive for opening statements and the first witnesses in the prosecution’s case.

Thiros said he could offer no explanation for his dismissal.

Judge Diane Ross Boswell scheduled a March 15 status hearing for Hiatt, who initially was charged with three felony neglect counts punishable by a maximum 50-year sentence. A murder charge was filed on May 31, about one week before Hiatt’s first jury trial date.

The case has been scheduled for trial four times, and Thiros attempted to delay the start of the trial on Monday, but Boswell denied the request.

Days before Hiatt’s last jury trial date on Oct. 24, Thiros hired as a medical expert forensic pathologist John Cavanaugh, who has worked for the Lake County coroner’s office. After jury selection on Monday, Boswell agreed to a scheduling accommodation to allow deputy prosecutors Angela Brown and Reginald Marcus and Thiros to depose Cavanaugh on Tuesday. No deposition was taken, however, after Brown said they were told Thiros would not be calling Cavanaugh as a witness.

Prosecutors learned at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday about Hiatt’s decision to retain new legal representation.
[...]http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/10806391-418/murder-trial-delayed-when-defendant-fires-attorney.html


The firing of attorney James Thiros just prior to Wednesday's opening arguments in the trial of a Griffith man accused of killing a 3-year-old left the child's mother near collapse.

Concerned court officials came to the aid of the mother of Comer Watkins, alleged to have been killed by the woman's then-boyfriend, Levi Hiatt. The woman was taken by wheelchair to a waiting car.

The rare last-minute development also stunned longtime court watchers who had gathered to hear the trial begin in earnest.
[...]

The trial was to resume Wednesday with both sides presenting their case to the jury. Instead Hiatt fired Thiros first thing in the morning, followed by Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell warning Hiatt of the consequences.

Those consequences include a $1,000 penalty for jury expenses and a wait of several months for another trial, Boswell told Hiatt, who is in custody at the Lake County Jail.

It was unclear immediately what prompted Hiatt to seek another attorney.

"He has a right to do that," Thiros said later.
[...]http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/griffith/griffith-man-accused-of-killing--year-old-fires-attorney/article_6df6197e-f585-5ac0-b5a9-b6f7143fb9f5.html

[Marv]

That sorry-ass cowardly bastard son-of-a-bitch!! Just delaying the inevitable and drawing out the pain for all involved! Any pathetic little ruse to buy a bit more time. The fucking ass-wipe is too stupid to realise that, if he gets the maximum 65yrs (which he SHOULD) then a couple of weeks here and there of delays is not going to make much of a damn difference!

Just suck it up and accept your trial you fucking pussy ass-hole! Try and be a man for at least ONCE in your sorry, worthless life!

I hope, with every fibre of my being, that he gets the MAXIMUM! He should get an extra 20yrs for being a time-wasting fuck face.

[Tundratot]

I wonder if he's trying to run out the clock on something. They didn't hit him with manslaughter, did they, or something with a limitation placed on it? Maybe he's just comfy in the county lock up and wants to stay there as long as possible instead of going to prison with the big boys?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I wonder if he's trying to run out the clock on something. They didn't hit him with manslaughter, did they, or something with a limitation placed on it? Maybe he's just comfy in the county lock up and wants to stay there as long as possible instead of going to prison with the big boys?
He's charged with murder. They added that charge just before the last trial was to start. That's why they got the continuance then - because they wanted to call an expert. I suspect that expert didn't do anything positive for the defense and that is why the lawyer decided not to call him... and then asshat fired lawyer. I wonder why asshat thinks he is a better legal strategist than the lawyer?

[Tundratot]

CROWN POINT | A Griffith man who last month fired his attorney at the start of his murder trial appeared in court Wednesday with a new privately hired attorney in tow.

Valparaiso attorney Larry Rogers entered his appearance for 28-year-old Levi Hiatt, who is accused of killing the 3-year-old child of his then-girlfriend.

Rogers replaces Merrillville attorney James Thiros, fired by Hiatt last month on the morning Thiros was to present opening arguments

The surprise firing of Thiros, which has delayed Hiatt's trial until Sept. 24, had left the child's mother near collapse.

Warning Hiatt of the consequences of his 11th-hour decision, Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell fined Hiatt $1,000 for the costs already incurred through jury selection.
. . .

In addition to the new trial date, Boswell on Wednesday set a status hearing for May 31 and a pretrial conference for Aug. 24.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/griffith/new-attorney-new-trial-date-in-griffith-murder-case/article_18441024-a2a1-582e-9614-e05b1375972e.html

No explanation for firing the first attorney. I wonder if he'll do it again in September.

[malq]

I wonder if he's trying to run out the clock on something. They didn't hit him with manslaughter, did they, or something with a limitation placed on it? Maybe he's just comfy in the county lock up and wants to stay there as long as possible instead of going to prison with the big boys?
The clock never runs out on murder, he can delay it up to a point. But he will stand trial eventually. The strategy for delaying is to give the system a chance to do something that will give him a mistrial or grounds for an acquittal. I would be suprised if they didn't. What is rare is the defendant doing it by dismissing his council.

[Tundratot]

The trial of a Griffith man facing murder charges in the death of his then-girlfriend's 3-year-old son began Monday with jury selection.

The trial of Levi Hiatt, 28, has been delayed since February when Hiatt unexpectedly fired his attorney after jurors had been selected and opening statements were slated to begin.

The surprise firing led to the near collapse of the child's mother. Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell fined Hiatt for costs incurred during jury selection.

Now represented by Valparaiso attorney Larry Rogers, Hiatt also faces multiple felony child neglect charges in the death of Comer Watkins sometime between April 11 and April 12, 2010, while the boy's mother was at work.. . .

The trial resumes at 10 a.m. Tuesday with opening statements by the prosecution and the defense.http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/griffith/trial-begins-for-griffith-man-charged-in-death-of-ex/article_1a724588-db23-51a2-b083-2e2f27332f49.html

Good to know that delaying the trial with that 11th hour trick bit him in the butt.

[Tundratot]

Lake Superior Court jurors heard a Hobart man on trial for murder and neglect of a dependent in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s 3-year-old son describe two versions of what happened to the boy.

Levi Edward Hiatt, 28, initially told Griffith police detectives that he was playing with little Comer Watkins V and picked him up and dropped him on the bed to get him in a better mood when the child landed on the child safety rail and injured his genitals. He also said the child’s head struck the edge of the TV, which was inches from the bed.

In a second statement to Griffith police Detective Nick Rentas and Lt. Matt Argadine, Hiatt admitted he had initially lied during questioning about the incident, which occurred April 11, 2010 . . .

Hiatt told investigators the child’s penis was injured after he decided to wake up the boy by jumping on the bed. When he landed, Hiatt said his knee went into the child’s groin as he lay under the blankets. Comer began screaming, and Hiatt said he took the child into the bathroom and told him to take off his pants so he could look at the area. The boy wasn’t listening, so Hiatt said he grabbed Comer by his ankles and “pulled too hard,” causing the boy to strike his head on the tub and the floor. Comer’s eyes rolled back in his head a little, Hiatt said. “He wouldn’t respond to anything. I tried to wake him up. He wouldn’t respond,” Hiatt said.

Hiatt said he put a diaper on Comer and put him in bed, placing a bag with ice on his privates. Hiatt said he also searched the Internet for information on seizures, head injuries and penis injuries and was hopeful that the child would be OK because he had read that after a head injury an individual could feel tired.

In the 15-minute second taped statement to police, Hiatt tearfully tells detectives he was panicked and scared. “I should have called (911),” he said.

“At that point you knew it was serious, didn’t you, Levi?” Rentas asked him.

“Yeah,” Hiatt responded.

Hiatt admitted he never told the child’s mother, Stephanie Smith, that Comer was injured and never called 911 until the following afternoon when he found the boy unresponsive. . . .

“I’m sorry for lying. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry,” Hiatt said, crying. “It was an accident. I should have called through. I should have.”
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/15392180-418/juror-hear-mans-two-versions-of-events-that-led-to-childs-death.html

Fathead. If we could believe the second version of events, I have to say that the reasonability of dragging a boy's feet out from under him because he's screaming -- and any guy would sympathize about the level of pain the child was enduring from his penis -- is frustratingly small. It not only showed what a moron Hiatt is, but compounded the injuries the child endured. The fatal injury, really. Hiatt then alleges that he iced the child's groin, but apparently not his head.

Hiatt alleges he looked up head injuries and understood that they could make a victim sleepy. Strange he didn't also learn that allowing the victim of a head injury to sleep was not advised, and that immediate medical care was. So, why did he look it up, if he planned to just ignore it?

[Tundratot]

A child abuse specialist testifying in the murder trial of a Hobart man said the injuries his ex-girlfriend’s 3-year-old son received were deliberately inflicted and not accidental.

“The child had to have suffered some sort of trauma to his head,” said Dr. Kelley Staley of Comer Watkins V, a 3-year-old Griffith boy who arrived at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital on a ventilator and barely clinging to life on April 12, 2010. . . .

Staley, who is board-certified in child abuse pediatrics and was associate medical director of child abuse pediatrics at the hospital, said the toddler suffered direct trauma to his genitals, which were extremely red and swollen.

Responding to questions from deputy prosecutor Reginald Marcus, Staley said Comer had a quarter-size bruise on his pubic area, as well as bruises along his spine that suggested he had been forcefully held and possibly thrown against something. The layers of bleeding within his retinas and bleeding on both sides of the brain suggested he was shaken violently and possibly slammed forcefully against something, Staley said. . . .

Staley said based on tests at the hospital, there was no evidence the boy struck the back of his head.

Staley said the child also had a large bruise on his calf, which she said could have been caused by a “kick or stomp” and most likely was not from what Hiatt described.

During cross-examination by defense attorney Larry Rogers, Staley said Hiatt’s explanation to police investigators for the groin injury was unlikely in light of the additional bruise in the pubic area.

Staley also discounted Rogers’ suggestion that Comer suffered the head injuries in a fall while playing at a baby shower on April 11, 2010. A note in the intensive care admission records indicates a “minor head injury” reported by Comer’s maternal grandmother with “no complications.” Staley said had the injury been serious, the child could have had trouble walking, talking, eating or vomiting. . . .
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/lake/15416719-418/child-abuse-expert-says-defendants-story-doesnt-add-up.html

[DamagedGoods]

Hiatt alleges he looked up head injuries and understood that they could make a victim sleepy. Strange he didn't also learn that allowing the victim of a head injury to sleep was not advised, and that immediate medical care was. So, why did he look it up, if he planned to just ignore it?

I'm guessing the internal dialog that lead to his looking it up went like this:

"I think I remember that head injuries cause sleepiness, I'll look it up to make sure"
"I was right! Yay me!"

Followed by crickets chirping in the sad excuse for a brain he has.

[Silvahalo]

He was found unconscious from severe head and genital injuries, including retinal hemorrhages, swelling and bleeding in the brain, acute traumatic injury to the penis, and multiple bruises along the spinal column and extremities.not to mention a huge bruise to his calf.
He beat the life out of Comer, a grown, pathetic, useless, coward piece of flesh. no man. nope.

I want to see him fry but better yet beat daily then one day meet the same ending as Comer....dying beat to hell, not forgetting his genitals tho this fucker has no balls cause he ain't no real man. 19 hrs. no one notices he's dying. alone.
I've already forgotten your sorry ass name baby killer.

[Tundratot]

Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced a Hobart man to 30 years in prison for neglect of a dependent in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.

Levi Edward Hiatt, 28, who pleaded guilty to the charge during his jury trial in the 2010 death of Comer Watkins V, made no statement in court and sat with his head down as the family of the toddler affectionately called Baby Comer described their loss, their dissatisfaction with the justice system and the horrific nature of the crime. . . .

Comer’s paternal grandmother, Lucy Watkins, told the judge, “A baby should not die by the hands of a man or woman, and only serve a few years.” Watkins urged a change in the law to make the sentence for that type of crime an automatic life without parole.[Personally, I think the baby should not serve any time at all.]

Deputy prosecutor Angela Brown told Boswell she wanted to stand before her to argue for a murder sentence of 45 to 65 years “because the state believes that is what Levi Hiatt deserves.” . . .
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/16518837-537/hobart-man-gets-30-years-in-connection-with-toddlers-death.html

I know, I know. Grandma didn't mean the baby shouldn't serve time, but that's certainly what the quote seems to suggest.

Considering what some of these baby killers get, especially when/if it's their own child, 30 years is pretty good. But I'd like to know how much of that he'll be required to serve before I get too satisfied.

[Aena]

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/16518837-537/hobart-man-gets-30-years-in-connection-with-toddlers-death.html

I know, I know. Grandma didn't mean the baby shouldn't serve time, but that's certainly what the quote seems to suggest.

Considering what some of these baby killers get, especially when/if it's their own child, 30 years is pretty good. But I'd like to know how much of that he'll be required to serve before I get too satisfied.

In Indiana they get two for one days, so I am not sure if he was sentenced to 30 do 15, or sentenced to 60 do 30...

Edited to add, it sounds like he was sentenced to 30, so he will do 15...