How Could You? Hall of Shame-John Hintz UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Wymore, Nebraska, foster-to-adopt father John Hintz, 44 was arrested on felony child abuse of his 7-year-old son on Friday March 18, 2011. This child had been abused by his biological parents and had been in 14 foster homes prior to being placed with Hintz. He was adopted by Hintz and his wife in November 2010.
On February 10, 2011, “both of the child’s adopted parents met with school personnel and told school officials they no longer wanted the child to have treats or rewards because they felt the sugar was affecting his behavior.”
First Report
The elementary school file an abuse report at some point after this incident:
“Court documents say that on Feb. 23, the child was forced to eat all of his Valentine’s Day candy when the Hintzs found out he stole a granola bar from a classmate.
The child said his mom crunched up all the candy with a hammer and put it in a bowl. The child said Hintz told him “I’m going to make it so you never want to eat candy again.”
The child said he had to eat all the candy and drink 10 glasses of Dr. Pepper, but was only able to drink five glasses before vomiting. The boy told authorities his dad told him he would hit him if he threw up on him.
He was then forced to run more laps around the shop and then clean up his own vomit with a rag and water.”
Report Warranting the Arrest
But the arrest did not occur until the child “received a pink slip from a teacher at Southern Elementary in Blue Springs for stealing a candy bar.
Hintz received notification of the pink slip and allegedly proceeded to discipline the child by making him do push ups with closed fists on a rock surface. The child did the push ups while Hintz placed his foot on the child’s back.
When the child could no longer do push ups, Hintz allegedly grabbed him by the hair and neck and pulled him up. The young boy was then forced to run laps around Hintz’s shop until he was sweating, breathing hard and his legs ached.
When he stopped running, Hintz allegedly grabbed the child by the hair and pulled it to the point he was dragging the child along.
The report also stated that the child was only given a piece of plain bread and a glass of water for dinner the night before.
A sheriff’s deputy spoke with the child and the child confirmed the allegations against Hintz. The deputy observed the child’s knuckles to be red with scratches and cuts. He also had scratches on his back and chest and blisters on both feet from running.”
Wymore man arrested for child abuse
[Beatrice Daily Sun 3/22/11 by Luke Nichols]
REFORM Puzzle Pieces
Update: “A Wymore man was sentenced to one year probation Thursday morning for misdemeanor child abuse.
John Hintz, 44, pleaded no contest in October to the charge in exchange for a joint recommendation from both attorneys of two years probation.
The charge stems from accusations made in March claiming that Hintz was using discipline methods that could physically and mentally affect the 7-year-old child.
Court documents say Hintz had disciplined the child by making him do push ups with closed fists on a rock surface. The child did the push ups while Hintz placed his foot on the child’s back.
Hintz was also accused of forcing the child to run around his shop until he was sweating, breathing hard and his legs ached. Court documents also say the child was only given a piece of plain bread and a glass of water the night before.
Deputies at the time observed the child’s knuckles to be red with scratches and cuts. He also had scratches on his back and chest and blisters on both feet.
The child was adopted by the Hintz family in November of 2010. The child had previously been abused by his biological parents and had been in 14 different foster homes prior to being adopted.
Despite the joint recommendation of two years probation, Judge Daniel Bryan only sentenced Hintz to one year probation.
Hintz’s attorney, Dustin Garrison, felt the punishment was appropriate. He said the child had a history of unruly behavior and normal discipline methods weren’t working. Garrison also questioned the investigation.
“I don’t think what my client did in this case was consistent with the allegations made by either law enforcement or the child,” Garrison said.”
Man receives probation for child abuse
[Beatrice Daily Sun 12/2/11 by Luke Nichols]
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