A Virginia man is headed to prison for beating his 12-year-old stepson with autism because he was eating bread in bed.

In March, Casey Mobley, aged 35, admitted to child abuse charges. Although sentencing guidelines suggested a six-month jail term, the judge imposed a two-year prison sentence followed by three years of probation, according to Phillip “Bucky” Blevins, the Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney, in a press release.

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The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 14, 2023, when Mobley saw the boy had eaten bread in bed.

The release detailed that Mobley cursed while striking and hitting the victim on the buttocks and face. This assault, lasting around 30 seconds, was captured on closed-circuit television.

At sentencing, Blevins argued the Virginia sentencing guidelines that called for just six months behind bars were “out of touch” and argued for more time. The judge apparently agreed.

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“Casey Mobley is a monster who beat a child without mercy,” Blevins said. “The young man was vulnerable, innocent, and deserving of love and protection – not violence. What Mobley did is inexcusable and unconscionable. Let this be a message to anyone who would harm a child: we will find you, prosecute you, and seek justice for our victims. My office is committed to holding child abusers accountable. I am grateful for Judge Campbell’s decision to exceed the guidelines and for the support of the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.”

Smyth County is located in the southwest part of the state, just north of the borders shared with Tennessee and North Carolina.