Indianapolis man sentenced in grandchildren abuse case - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

An Indianapolis man was sentenced Thursday in a case involving the abuse and neglect of his grandchildren on a brutal Grand Canyon hike.

Christopher Carlson, 45, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release.

Carlson claimed he took the boys on the hike to toughen them up and keep them in shape. The boys were 8, 9, and 12 at the time.

A federal jury convicted Carlson on three counts of criminally negligent child abuse on Feb. 29, 2012. The evidence at trial showed that Carlson took his three grandsons on two separate hikes to the Grand Canyon in August 2011.

Although the temperature during both hikes exceeded 100 degrees, Carlson severely limited water and food to the victims, marched and ran them up dangerous terrain, and placed their health at risk. The jury found that Carlson's conduct during the second hike, which occurred on August 28, 2011, constituted criminally negligent child abuse. Each hike was longer than 15 miles. The boys also say Carlson pushed, choked, and kicked them.

U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone ordered that, during the period of supervised release, Carlson have no contact with the victims without permission of the probation officer and that he receive parenting skills counseling. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Martone noted that Carlson's behavior was more like a drill sergeant with new recruits rather than a grandparent with grandchildren.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch and the Law Enforcement Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park. The prosecution was handled by Camille D. Bibles and Dyanne C. Greer, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

Read details of the report.