Dad gets max sentence for ‘continuous’ abuse that killed son
Inset: Landan Jennings (Clark County Jail). Background: The apartment complex where authorities said he abused his 4-month-old son to death (WHIO).
A 25-year-old father in Ohio will spend more than a decade behind bars for his role in killing his 4-month-old son who died after months of continuous abuse.
Clark County Common Pleas Judge Douglas M. Rastatter on Tuesday ordered Landan Jennings to serve the maximum sentence of up to 16 1/2 years in a state correctional facility for the horrific 2023 slaying of his young son, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show. According to court documents, Landan in February reached a deal with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of permitting child abuse. In exchange for his plea, the remaining charges against him were dropped, including two counts of murder, one count of felonious assault, and one count of endangering children.
The victim’s mother, Angel Seiker, was also charged in connection with her son’s death. She pleaded guilty to the same charge as Jennings and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
Prior to handing down the sentence, Rastatter addressed Jennings directly and explained why he felt the maximum sentence was appropriate.
“Really the only thing this child experienced in this world was pain and suffering. I cannot in good conscience show you any mercy or any leniency when your son didn’t get any of that,” he said, according to courtroom footage posted by Dayton, Ohio CBS affiliate WHIO. “This child was abused continuously over the months before his death.”
