A Missouri cop was handed a promotion in March 2015, less than a month after losing his temper and throwing a four-year-old boy against the wall, slamming his head into a cabinet.
Leadwood Police Sergeant Jay R. Bellis also admitted to pulling the boy’s ears, causing them to bleed, because the boy had misbehaved at daycare.
Bellis’ promotion was short-lived, however, as he was arrested on felony child endangerment charges three weeks later, which led to his resignation.
Last week, the 39-year-old former cop was sentenced to seven years in prison, according to the [__Daily Journal.__](http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-officer-sentenced-for-endangering-child/article_1535731d-56e7-5a55-9ce4-f512406980df.html)
But Bellis won’t be serving any hard time in prison because the judge quickly suspended that sentence to five years probation.
However, Associate Circuit Judge Wendy Wexler Horn did order Bellis to serve 60 days of so-called “shock time” in the St. Francois County Jail.
The incident took place in Bellis’ home on February 24, 2015. The boy lived in his household, but his relationship with the boy has not been publicized.
He was rehired by the Leadwood Police Department on March 12, 2015. And promoted to sergeant shortly after.
And he was arrested on [__April 2, 2015,__](http://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/officer-charged-with-child-abuse/article_480fbfd8-d110-5ffe-b450-d7c1f1605e23.html) but was quickly released after posting a $50,000 bond.
According to the police report, Bellis admitted throwing the young boy against the wall after losing his temper.
Bellis pleaded guilty to felony child endangerment in October.
Judge Horn then ordered a “Sentencing Assessment Report” on his’ criminal, professional and social histories and set a future date for sentencing, which was last week.
Upon considering the factors of the case, Judge Horn sentenced Bellis to seven years in the Missouri State Department of Corrections before suspending the sentence to probation.
Bellis previously worked for Leadwood police between 2011 to 2014 and then the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department before he was rehired at Leadwood.
In addition to court costs, Bellis was ordered to undergo an anger management program and follow the special conditions recommended in the sentencing report.
