Josh Powell
A man charged in the abuse of his infant son has been sentenced to serve eight years in state prison.
Josh Powell, 39, earlier pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated child abuse.
Judge Don Poole conducted a lengthy sentencing hearing.
The sister of Powell's former wife testified that she thought her sister had found the perfect husband with Powell. She said after they had a son that Powell appearing as a doting father.
However, while staying with the couple she said one night she heard the child making a high-pitched sound. She said she got up to check on him and was told he was okay.
But she said an examination of the boy when he was 11 weeks old showed that he had 37 different broken bones that were in varying stages of healing. The injuries were in the feet, legs, ribs, fingers, arms and clavicle.
She said her sister then moved out and the child was placed with the state. Powell was eventually charged in the case.
The witness said she fought to get custody of the child and her sister eventually regained custody. She said the child afterward was "inconsolable" and suffered seizures.
She said it was learned that Powell was the father of twins in Texas and had been accused of abusing them, including breaking bones. But that case was dismissed. She said Powell told her he had been falsely charged in Texas.
She called Powell "a monster" and said he needs to be in prison for life.
Powell's sister told of a difficult childhood for them, including her parents splitting up and her mother marrying an alcoholic. She said at one point the mother moved off and left them.
She said Powell had joined the Navy and had tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He eventually left the military after a positive test for marijuana.
The sister said her brother "deals with things so much better now. He counsels others. He is not a threat to anyone. He does not need to go to prison."
She said he is being punished by the fact he can never be around any of his sons.
A Chattanooga woman who said she met Powell at work said they began living together in 2018. She said she would never let him in her home if she had any fear of him.
Attorney Bryan Hoss said, "Once the child’s injuries were found out, Powell was diagnosed by Dr. Bertin Glennon as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time in the military. Specifically, he helped clean up the dead victims from the USS Cole bombing and Dr. Glennon testified that what he experienced on the Cole is what caused his PTSD. He went undiagnosed for PTSD for years which we believed contributed to his actions.
The prosecutor was Crystle Carrion.