In Butler County Court last Wednesday, Jarred Knight, 24, of Harrisville got the prison sentence he deserved — 20 to 40 years, the statutory maximum sentence for third-degree murder.

His sentence, handed down by Judge Timothy McCune, delivered the kind of message that was necessary to those capable of committing crimes against children, the kind of heinous crime for which Knight was convicted as well as crimes of lesser severity. That message is that anyone found guilty of committing a crime against a child in this county should not expect compassion by the court.

Meanwhile, District Attorney Richard Goldinger expressed the right attitude after Knight's sentencing.

"I just wish the statute allowed for a longer sentence," Goldinger said.

After completing his sentence behind bars, Knight will have the opportunity to resume his life. Not so for his victim, 13-month-old Tyler Davis, who died June 24, 2007, a day after incurring massive head injuries while in the care of Knight.

Knight had learned just weeks earlier that he was not Tyler's father. Prosecutors believe Knight slammed Tyler's head into a bathroom wall.

Jurors during Knight's trial opted against a first-degree murder conviction, settling on a third-degree homicide conviction that ruled out the possibility of a death penalty.

Knight will have two decades or more in confinement to deal with the understanding that not only did he destroy Tyler's life, but that his action will make it difficult for him to ever fashion a respected, productive life after he is released.

The specter of his unconscionable action on June 23, 2007, will continue to haunt him for the rest of his life — indeed, as it should.

In court at Knight's sentencing, McCune admitted that he had struggled to fashion a sentence until he recalled the testimony of a doctor about the force used on Tyler's head.

"He said it was akin to the child being hit by a baseball bat," the judge said.

What prompted such violence might never be known. At his sentencing, Knight continued to deny responsibility for Tyler's death — sticking by his story that Tyler incurred his fatal injury during a fall while being prepared for a bath.

"I don't know why God lets accidents happen," Knight said.

The verdict against him makes clear the fact that, in addition to not knowing how to control anger, he hasn't learned how to accurately assign blame.

By way of the sentences they hand down, Butler County judges should continue to deliver the message that anyone convicted of crimes against children will not be dealt compassion.

McCune made a strong statement on behalf of that attitude and tough reputation of the court by not deviating from the maximum penalty.

Knight is going to a place where he belongs — a place in which he won't be able to hurt any more children and a place where even some otherwise hardened criminals don't look kindly on a person who chose to take the life of a child.