DARLINGTON — An Argyle man with a history of disorderly conduct convictions was sentenced to prison July 7 for beating his son.

Austin James Penniston, 39, pleaded no contest in February to the Class H felony charge of child abuse in Lafayette County Circuit Court. After several delays, he was sentenced July 7 to two years in prison and three years on extended supervision.

He’s ordered to participate in the Lafayette County Domestic Abuse Intervention Program and in mental health treatment. He’s also barred from contact with his children outside of pre-approved supervised visits.

A victim impact statement, a letter from Penniston’s treatment provider and other documents were sealed from the public record.

The case stems from an investigation into an incident at Penniston’s home on South State Street on March 7, 2019. Police reports filed with the criminal complaint indicate Penniston punched his 12-year-old son in the chest and back with a closed fist, kicked him in the stomach and repeatedly slapped him in the head.

The boy told police his father “beat him up” for not having rice cooked for dinner and told him “once you’re 13, I can start beating you.” The boy’s younger sister told police their father hits them both and this was worst beating she had ever seen her brother endure. Penniston told police he “open fist slapped” his son and “would do it again.”

Penniston has a criminal record dating back over 15 years, including multiple convictions of domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and operating while intoxicated.