Man admits beating boy: Potty training of tot leads to 'excessive discipline'

Todd Toman admitted Thursday in Flathead County District Court that the punishment he delivered to a 6-year-old boy who was struggling with potty training was extreme.

On Jan. 14, and in the days that followed, he beat the boy with a 16-inch hickory branch, forced him to wear soiled clothing, knocked him on the floor and left him otherwise battered and bruised, according to court documents.

“It was excessive discipline, yes,” Toman said.

Toman made the admission to Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams on Thursday morning after pleading guilty to one count of felony assault on a minor and one felony count of criminal endangerment.

His plea came after an agreement with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office to dismiss a felony assault-with-a-weapon charge that carries a maximum 20-year sentence.

Under the terms of the agreement, prosecutors will suggest a 10-year sentence for Toman with all but two years deferred.

The child abuse came to the attention of law enforcement Jan. 20 after a social worker reported the 6-year-old boy had extensive bruising on the right side of his face and his left jaw, and severe bruises ranging from dark red to yellow on his buttocks and upper thighs.

The boy told a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office detective that the facial bruising was the result of Toman striking him repeatedly with a towel.

Toman admitted to the abuse, according to court documents.

He told detectives he became angry after finding urine-soaked clothing in the boy’s room. When the boy denied knowledge of the clothing, Toman said he delivered “two or three good licks” with the stick, a chunk of hickory with the word “lie” on one side and “truth” on the other.

The boy received more lashes after Toman noticed the boy had defecated during the initial beating, according to court documents. At one point, the boy fell and struck his head on a bathtub. Toman then forced the boy to stand in a cold shower, then sit on the toilet for an hour before dressing him in a girl’s pajamas as additional punishment.

Days later, Toman made the boy wear soiled clothing so “he could smell what it’s like to wear clothes that have been peed in,” according to court documents.

Adams described the abuse in detail Thursday as Toman took the stand to plead guilty. She said Toman kept the boy out of school for two days to hide the bruising.

The boy has since relocated to another state, and Toman said Thursday he has not had any contact with the boy or the boy’s family. Toman said he is undergoing anger management treatment.

A District Court judge will make a sentencing decision during a hearing Oct. 21.

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com.