Court reverses man's scalding conviction

 HELENA — The Montana Supreme Court has reversed a Helena man’s conviction of scalding a 3-year-old boy in a bathtub and sent the case back to district court.

The court ruled Tuesday that District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock erred by not extending the trial so an expert witness for the defense could testify.

Christopher Lee Gleed received a 20-year prison sentence in January 2013 after being convicted of aggravated assault.

A doctor from Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City testified at Gleed’s trial that there were signs the child was forcefully immersed in the 130-degree water.

An expert witness for Gleed was prepared to testify how the burns on the child could be accidental. But he was traveling, and Sherlock refused to delay the trial.