This morning, 55-year-old Michael Lee Owens plead guilty to Common Law Assault and was sentenced to 30 years suspend all but time served.
Ruark says the physical abuse began when the victim was only 12-years-old. Ruark says Owens physically abused his son between July 26, 1989 and March 31, 1991 at their home on Patriot Drive in Salisbury. Investigators say the sister of the victim testified, in a separate trial, that in one incident Owens had tied her brother “to a chair and beat him for about two hours” before she was forced to leave the room where she continued to hear her brother’s screams. The sister also testified of another incident in which Owens, the victim’s biological father, punched the victim in the face causing him to fall over a sofa with sustained physical injuries. The defendant admitted in a separate, but related case, that he had tied the victim to himself in a chair and struck him with a belt.
The victim died on April 26, 2007. However, in a suicide note, the victim explicitly references the physical abuse at the hands of his father.
State’s Attorney Davis Ruark says “This is a significant case because it shows that after many years, justice can still be obtained."
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
33 comments:
He should be in jail for life with no probation
4:36 Amen!
Why did it take this poor boy killing himself for someone to do something? Were there no other relatives or neighbors or teachers who saw the signs of such terrible abuse? How very sad....Rest In Peace young man, finally.
countrygirl@heart
Ruark calls this justice. I think Ruark has lost his mind. This man should be in prison for the rest of his life. I don't know how long this man stayed in jail but I would guess not very long. He would probably have received more time if he had been charged with animal abuse. It seems justice is never served in Wicomico County.
what justice is there that is being obtained?
State’s Attorney Davis Ruark says “This is a significant case because it shows that after many years, justice can still be obtained."
what "justice"?
a suspended sentence? The person (I can't say man or father) should be sentenced to death. After all he was the cause, no he didn't physically commit murder but his actions solely caused it. Hang him.
a bullet to the sperm donors head would be justice..
I am going to throw up.
This is not justice--this is another horrible case of laws that protect the criminal while ignoring the victim. How much time did this POS actually serve? Anyone that could beat his son for over two hours is guilty of more than child abuse--it sounds to me more like torture.
Is this the same guy charged with arson in a Fruitland housefire in 1993 ?
Does this mean he is in jail for 30 years?
boy I'll tell you what, ruark must me off his meds if he thinks there is any justice in this sentence.
I did not know Mr. Owens but I did know of his son who died in April 2007. This man should be hung up by his toes and be tortured just like he did to his son.
Its hard to believe that his family and friends allowed this to happen as they had to know what was going on. Probably Mr. Owens is one of the good ole boys in this county and has lots of backing in the court system. Would be interesting to know why his sentence was suspended to almost nothing. Who was the judge? Must be one of the good ole boys!
Those of us who grew up in this small town are familiar with both Mr. Owen and Mr. Ruark. No surprise from either.
Folks, I normally don't do this but allow me to come to the States Attorney's defense here for just a minute.
First of all, they had no victim to put on the stand. Unfortunately the child is deceased.
Now what you have to understand is how difficult it is to get a conviction of any sort in this kind of case. Being the child can't testify as to what happened to him, getting a Judge to give any kind of real sentence is a miracle in itself. I know, it ticks you off but that's a fact.
Now think about the fact that a States Attorney was able to achieve convincing a Judge to give this man 30 years. Do you realize what that means. It means this case is hanging over his head for the next 30 YEARS! If this man does ANYTHING wrong during that time, this case comes back to life.
With nothing to really go by, I'd say these people did an incredible job. Stop pointing a finger at Davis Ruark and Staff as well as the Judge. They pulled off something I doubt any other States Attorney has ever done. Now think about that before you continue to go off on these people.
Yes, the Father is a scumbag piece of sh!t. His day will come, you'll see.
Joe,
The balance of the 30 years will only be hanging over Owen's head for 5 years, while he is on probation.
At least something was finally done.
I wish he had been charged with murder because that is what it was.
The judge gave him a 30-year sentence. Why on earth reduce it to time served? Why couldn't he serve the amount of time he was given?
Its amazing the amount of closed minds, and those that apply their violent imaginations. Maybe there are some thats never had to deal with an unruly out of control teen. ASk yourself what did this boy do to get struck with a belt? It didnt say once or a hundred times, the sister left the room because he screamed obscenities to get his way?Was he tied to his father so he couldnt commit suicide? Was he struck in the mouth because he spat in his fathers face or spewing vile curse words? Perhaps he refused to get treatment for his vises?
You have no clue what that family was going thru, quit trying to be the hangman.
7:17, listen, buttwipe, the abuse started when the kid was TWELVE! Tied to a chair for two hours? Beaten while in the chair? That is NOT how you deal with an "unruly teen."
If the kid had mental issues, a parent takes them to a doctor.
I am glad YOU are not my parent if you think this sh*t was good parenting.
There is NO justification for laying hands on a child, 7:17.
Maybe YOUR parents didn't agree with that, or maybe YOU don't agree. Resorting to violence to discipline teaches a child that it's okay to resort to violence to resolve issues. Never a good thing.
As for the rest of the story, my only question/objection is that the jail sentence was suspended for time served. If you give a sentence, make them serve it.
Joe,
For obvious reasons I will stay Anon on this post... I sat on the Grand Jury on this case last yr. When Davis and the Assit DA who over sees childhood crime were presenting this case, it was one that struck us all very hard. The DA read us the 3 page suicide note having to stop several times because of the tears. she apologized for doing so but no need, we were all crying. It was a horrible case to hear.
The dad was an animal to both children and the son just couldn't live with it anymore and decided death was his only option. Sad!!!!
Death is too good for this man, daily beatings, ok now theres a start of repentance...
7:17 this had nothing to do with "discipline", it was out right abuse. Unthinkable torture. I know, I heard the facts, saw the letter and read the case in person.
anonymous 9:06, thanks for sharing that. I too knew he was a horrible human being. However, as you well know, this was an impossible case to handle because the child is no longer around to testify.
May God Bless all of you involved in this case. I can't even imagine how it would age each and every one of you 10 years.
If memory serves me properly, it was thrown out the first time around because of no witness. Until the sister agreed to testify. If she hadnt agreed to, the DA would have had their hands tied.
and yes it was a very rough day that day.
they did have a victim to put on the stand and they did. i'm glad there is some sort of "justice" but the family of this man will continue to suffer. and this post brings me to tears to think about it.
The man is sick. Is this the same guy that they couldn't charge with sexually abusing his daughter because she was under hypnosis by a therapist when she confessed that he had abused her?
I can't believe Ruark thinks justice was done here,I see he's still an idiot. Hey Ruark,do you feel justice was served in your own personal drunk driving stint? Dude you are a piece of work!!!!
7:17,
Please get yourself sterilized.
My personal opinion is that Ruark is off his rocker when saying justice was served in this case.
7:17
I am all in favor of giving kids a butt whipping when it is warranted but in what universe is it acceptable punishment to tie a kid to a chair and pummel him? I hope this man lives the rest of his life haunted by wha he did to his son.
With all due respect Joe, I have never seen you be critical of Davis Ruark. That in it's self is OK, but defending him in a situation like this seems a little much. You can give him credit for taking the case to court, but to say justice was served is a little more than most can tolerate.
Maybe this puke will get his justice in prison or when he gets out, sometimes things "just happen" to people and no one ever knows the truth.
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