A Georgia man is going to prison for at least 15 years for beating two young children in 2023 and concealing their injuries while they heal.
A jury in Catoosa County found 24-year-old Dillan Michael Tennant guilty of two counts of first-degree cruelty to children on Wednesday. Two days later, Judge Chris Arnt sentenced him to 30 years in prison, with at least 15 years behind bars in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
According to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Tennant, who lived at home with his parents in Ringgold, became furious while supervising his 2-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter after they reportedly created a mess in their bedroom.
Tennant hit both children over two days and used a board to hit his son. He then took the children to a friend’s house to hide the injuries, before returning home a few days later.
“Tenant became enraged because while failing to properly supervise the children, they made a mess in the bedroom,” the DA’s office said. “Tennant struck the children repeatedly over the course of two days.”
His plan fell apart when the children's grandparents saw their unhealed injuries and contacted the police. When questioned by investigators, Tennant denied harming the children and accused another family member of being responsible for the crime.
During the trial, child welfare advocates noted that the bruises on the two children were “some of the worst that had been seen in their career.” Law&Crime reports.
A doctor said that the injuries were caused by repetitive strikes with significant force and were not accidental.
In addition to the sentence, Tennant is prohibited from contacting his children and having unsupervised contact with other children.
“This child abuser will have plenty of time to clean his room in the Department of Corrections,” District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller said.
[Feature Photo: Dillan Tennant/Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office]