Calif. man convicted of abusing son for 18 years

[The Straight Story]

Calif. man convicted of abusing son for 18 years

(AP) – 2 days ago

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — A former school psychologist from California has been found guilty of regularly beating and sexually abusing his son for 18 years.

A jury in Victorville convicted Richard J. Swank on Wednesday of a dozen felony counts. The 47-year-old Apple Valley man could be sentenced in October to life in prison plus 96 years.

San Bernardino County prosecutors Kathleen DiDonato says the boy was abused almost from the time of his birth until he fled home at 18.

Trial testimony indicated the victim, who's now 24, was sexually abused from the age of 10, beaten almost daily, fed table scraps, forced to stand in the corner for hours, and slept in handcuffs, on the floor or in a cardboard box.

Swank's attorney, Valerie Ross, declined to comment on Thursday.

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