W’burg man sentenced to seven years in prison for abusing child

 A Williamsburg man who had admitted to abusing his 5-year-old daughter was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison.

Twenty-five-year-old Skyler Wilson had been indicted in Knox County in December on nine counts of first-degree criminal abuse and three counts of fourth-degree assault.

Wilson was sentenced to seven years on each of two counts of first-degree criminal abuse to which he had pleaded guilty on April 1.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Wilson will serve the sentences concurrently, meaning for each day he is incarcerated, he receives credit toward the service of both sentences.

In addition, Wilson, who has been held in the Knox County Detention Center since his arrest on Nov. 7, will receive credit for that time toward his sentence.

Under Kentucky Law, first-degree criminal abuse is a class C felony carrying a potential prison sentence of five to ten year.

Wilson was arrested following an investigation by Kentucky State Police.

State Police were called to Baptist Health Corbin after the child’s mother had brought her to the emergency room for treatment of injuries.

“The child had multiple bruises, cuts and scabs from the abuse that covered her body,” said Trooper Shane Jacobs, public affairs officer at post 10 in Harlan.

Jacobs said during an interview with police, Wilson admitted to the abuse, explaining that he would pinch and/or squeeze the girl as discipline for lying to him.

Wilson and the mother had been separated. Jacobs said Wilson had custody of the girl for the last 45 days prior to his arrest. However, Wilson had contacted the mother to come and get the child, saying that she could likely better provide for the child than he was able.

When the mother picked up the child, Jacobs said she went straight to the hospital with her. Social services was contacted, who, in turn, contacted state police.

Wilson was initially charged with 45 counts of first-degree criminal abuse and one count of fourth-degree assault.