Child abuser sent to prison

After 2-year-old Dominick Adams was physically battered by Michael Cory Barber, the child spent 63 days in the hospital with severe head trauma, broken bones, bruises and facial injuries that blinded the boy in one eye.

Barber, 29, was convicted of second-degree felony child abuse in April after a three-day jury trial. He was found not guilty of two other counts of felony child abuse and and two other counts were dismissed.

On Monday, Barber stood before 3rd District Judge Stephen Henriod during a sentencing hearing and asked for a second chance. "I ask you out of the mercy of your heart to give me probation," Barber said.

"I apologize to the family of Dominick Adams," Barber said. "I'm sorry for the family that I was careless and this happened the way it happened. It's tragedy that all this happened."

Barber rattled off a list of things he has done in jail to improve himself, including getting married, taking a Bible-study course by mail and moving up from maximum- to minimum-security status.

The judge was not convinced.

"My overwhelming duty is to protect the community," Henriod said. "It was clear from the evidence at the trial that he was beating this little boy. He has continued to refuse to take responsibility and has held on to the ridiculous story about a slip in the bathtub" causing the most serious injuries.

The judge also remarked about what he perceived to be gang tattoos on Barber, including on his scalp. Henriod also noted that Barber fled from police after the child was injured, and that Barber has an extensive criminal history.

Henriod sentenced Barber to one-to-15 years in prison and said he would not give any credit for time already spent in jail while the case proceeded.

The judge also issued a no-contact order to protect Dominick Adams and the rest of the boy's family. "That means none of your gang buddies, none of your family, not by telephone, not by mail — no contact."

Barber was baby-sitting Dominick and his sister, Anastasia, on March 2, 2005, in their West Valley City home while their mother was at work. Paramedics were called around 11 a.m. Barber, who at the time was the boyfriend of the children's mother, told the paramedics that Dominick had fallen in the bathtub and hit his head, but doctors said the injuries were not consistent with such a fall. They also observed other injuries.

Two days earlier, Dominick had been taken to the hospital with a broken arm and collarbone, which Barber said occurred when the boy jumped off a couch and hit the fireplace.