Cedar Rapids father sentenced to 10 years in prison for violently abusing infant

A tearful mother said in a victim's impact statement Tuesday that she just wanted to know why her son suffered broken legs and ribs at just over 6-weeks-old and asked a judge to make his abuser — his father — 'pay for what he did.'

Cherish Litz displayed two small, blue leg casts on the witness stand before explaining, while sobbing at times, that she didn't know and never suspected that her son's father, Ryan Beattie, 23, would have hurt their child. She said she knows her son won't remember those casts but she will for the rest of her life.

Litz remembered her baby being fussy and constipated that day back in May 2014 as she went to take a bath and the child stayed downstairs with Beattie. When she came downstairs Beattie was 'panicked' and her son was pale. She didn't know what happened. A few days later she noticed bruising under his ribs and leg, and then a doctor told them the X-rays revealed the infant had eight fractures.

'And Ryan said he hoped it wasn't him,' Litz said. 'Police questioned me at the hospital. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know he was hurt.'

Sixth Judicial District Judge Lars Anderson sentenced Beattie of Cedar Rapids, to 10 years in prison. Beattie pleaded in January to three felony counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury, each a five year penalty, and one misdemeanor of assault causing bodily injury, a penalty of 270 days in jail.

Anderson ran the five years on the remaining felony charge and the 270 days concurrently to the 10 years. He also ordered Beattie to pay restitution for his son's medical care. The state has 90 days to submit the restitution amount.

Beattie, before Anderson sentenced him, apologized to Litz and his son, saying he was 'so young and I messed up so bad.' He admitted not being ready to be a father and said this wasn't 'who I am as a person.' Beattie said he loved his son and thanked Litz for being a good mother and her husband for 'stepping up' and being a father to his child.

Beattie also asked to be sentenced to the 270 days in jail and probation.

First Assistant Nick Maybanks asked the court to sentence Beattie to 15 years in prison for this 'unspeakable' abuse and 'chilling' injuries — broken legs and rib fractures to an infant, the kind that might be caused in a car crash.

'Ryan took his frustrations out on a helpless baby,' Maybanks said.

Maybanks said Beattie confessed to grabbing the infant's legs and flipping him over and back 'more than once.' He pointed out after this abuse and his arrest, while out on bail, Beattie wasn't trying to change. He then went out and was charged for drunk driving.

Anderson said prison time would provide the maximum rehabilitation for Beattie and he had already had an opportunity to prove himself during the two years pending this sentencing and he made 'poor choices.'

According to court records, Beattie also was convicted of disorderly conduct, as well at the OWI, pending sentencing in the abuse case.