MONROE - An Evansville man whose 6-year-old son was severely injured in an ATV accident Sunday made his initial appearance in Green County Circuit Court Tuesday on charges of child abuse and negligent use of a motor vehicle.
Shawn Franklin Constantini, 37, faces a Class H felony charge of physical abuse of a child by reckless conduct "which creates a high probability of great bodily harm" to the child. He also faces Class A misdemeanor charges of bail jumping and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
He appeared in court Monday via video conference from the Green County Jail.
Constantini was with his son, Tyler, at a birthday party at a farm on Horan Road in Brooklyn Township Sunday afternoon. The two were riding in an ATV together on the property.
According to court records, Constantini had his son sitting in front of him and was speeding when the ATV crashed into a utility pole. The boy sustained a skull fracture and was taken to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
A responding officer at the scene reported that Constantini smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes. Constantini admitted to drinking a couple of beers that afternoon, a violation of a court order out of Rock County. He registered a 0.14 blood-alcohol concentration on a breathylizer test, nearly twice the legal limit for driving.
Constantini told the officer he had control of the ATV when his son pressed the thumb-controlled accelerator. He "could not stop fast enough" to avoid hitting the utility pole.
At the time of the accident, Constantini was out on bail on pending charges against him in Rock County of child neglect. Conditions of his bail in that case include no drinking, bars or liquor stores.
A signature bond of $5,000 is set for Constantini in Green County. Conditions of his bail include no contact with his son without supervision by the boy's mother or as authorized by Rock County Child Protective Services.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7.
- Katjusa Cisar
Shawn Franklin Constantini, 37, faces a Class H felony charge of physical abuse of a child by reckless conduct "which creates a high probability of great bodily harm" to the child. He also faces Class A misdemeanor charges of bail jumping and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
He appeared in court Monday via video conference from the Green County Jail.
Constantini was with his son, Tyler, at a birthday party at a farm on Horan Road in Brooklyn Township Sunday afternoon. The two were riding in an ATV together on the property.
According to court records, Constantini had his son sitting in front of him and was speeding when the ATV crashed into a utility pole. The boy sustained a skull fracture and was taken to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
A responding officer at the scene reported that Constantini smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes. Constantini admitted to drinking a couple of beers that afternoon, a violation of a court order out of Rock County. He registered a 0.14 blood-alcohol concentration on a breathylizer test, nearly twice the legal limit for driving.
Constantini told the officer he had control of the ATV when his son pressed the thumb-controlled accelerator. He "could not stop fast enough" to avoid hitting the utility pole.
At the time of the accident, Constantini was out on bail on pending charges against him in Rock County of child neglect. Conditions of his bail in that case include no drinking, bars or liquor stores.
A signature bond of $5,000 is set for Constantini in Green County. Conditions of his bail include no contact with his son without supervision by the boy's mother or as authorized by Rock County Child Protective Services.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7.
- Katjusa Cisar