West Valley man to serve year for boy's death

A West Valley man has been sentenced to serve one year in jail for the death of his girlfriend's 4-year-old son.

Adam Sean Jeppson, 29, was found guilty by a jury in October of misdemeanor negligent homicide over the alternative choice of second-degree felony child abuse homicide.

Jeppson had told police that the 4-year-old boy had been injured while riding his "big wheel" while he was watching the child for his girlfriend on Oct. 19, 2004. However, prosecutors said medical evidence indicated the boy suffered from numerous injuries to his head, face and back that could not have come from a single accidental episode.

In court Friday, the boy's mother, Kathena Williams, said she still believes Jeppson deserved harsher punishment and urged the court to sentence Jeppson to one year in jail, the maximum punishment for a class A misdemeanor.

"I left my beautiful baby boy with someone who I thought I could trust," Williams said. "My child's murderer will walk the streets soon."

Deputy Salt Lake County district attorney Paul Parker said his office was disappointed by the jury's verdict but has decided to "live with it."

Judge Dennis Frederick gave Jeppson 121 days credit for time served and ordered him to pay restitution for medical expenses in the boy's hospitalization as well as counseling costs for surviving family members.

During the trial, Parker said there was some conflict as to how much time had passed between when the boy was injured and when Jeppson called for help.

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