Southeast Missourian

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- After less than three hours of deliberation, a Jefferson County jury Friday found a Cape Girardeau man guilty of severely beating his son.

Eric Schwepker, 30, was found guilty of three counts of felony child abuse and misdemeanor assault for beating his then 11-year-old son with his hands, a belt and a baseball bat. Perhaps the most harsh injuries occurred Jan. 28 -- Super Bowl Sunday -- when his toes were struck with a hammer.

The jury of four women and eight men deliberated for two hours and 20 minutes before giving their verdict to Circuit Judge Gary Kramer. The trial was shifted to Hillsboro on a change of venue.

Schwepker faces up to seven years in prison for each felony and up to a year for the fourth charge. Possible fines can be as high as $16,000. Schwepker is free on bond until the Nov. 13 sentencing.

His son now lives with his maternal grandmother, Karen Bowers.

"I'm just glad it's all over with," she said, adding that she was grateful to the prosecutors and others who made it possible for the boy to live with her now.

Love and hate

She said the 12-year-old is happy and growing like a weed.

"In February, he was 70 pounds. Now he's 5-foot-6 and 142 pounds," she said.

But the past week was tough on him, Bowers said.

Questioned by assistant prosecutor Scott Lipke, the boy described his abuse and testified that deep inside he still loved Schwepker "because he's my father" but "on the outside I hate him because of what he did."

Schwepker took the stand and pitted his word against his son's. He denied beating his son on Jan. 28 and said he smacked him lightly with a belt as punishment when he misbehaved.

The boy testified his father hit him with a belt, then a baseball bat, claiming Schwepker warned he would be "taking Mark McGwire swings."

In closing argument, defense attorney Steve Wilson said the boy was a liar.

But the jury apparently believed the child's testimony, which was backed up with photographs of bruises, and a pediatrician's testimony on the severity of the boy's wounds.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

365-6611, extension 160