A Williamson County jury gave Scott Hudson the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for injury to a child - serious bodily injury.
The jury convicted Hudson Thursday for submerging a 3-year-old child's hands in 140-degree water. Judge Ken Anderson added that the crime was committed with a deadly weapon, which means that Hudson must serve at least half of his 20-year sentence.
Scott Hudson looked at his wife, Jennifer Hudson, as the injured child's mother had the chance to address him in court, telling him what her son now goes through each day.
Hudson's statement came after closing arguments. That is when the prosecutor showed the jury once again photographs of the child's hands, covered with third-degree burns. Scott Hudson submerged the child's hands in a sink full of scalding hot water for 10 to 30 seconds.
The child's mother recounted a recent outburst at her son's school, after his class learned about "stranger danger." Quoting her son, she said, "'I don't want to go to Mr. Scott's! I don't want to go to Mr. Scott's! He hurt me!'"
Scott Hudson burned the child's hands at his wife's unlicensed, in-home day care, Miss Jennifer's Day Care in Round Rock.
The Hudsons have three children of their own, and one on the way. They no longer live in the house they were renting.
The injured child's family had responded to an ad on Craigslist, checked the Hudsons' references and then entrusted Jennifer Hudson with the care of their 3-year-old son and his 18-month-old brother for eight months, until Jennifer Hudson called them on Oct. 27, 2009.
The child's mother said that Jennifer Hudson told her, "you might want to come and pick him up" with no emotion in her voice, no urgency and no degree of how bad it was.
The child spent 11 days in intensive care at Dell Children's Medical Center. He has permanent scarring, both emotionally and physically, according to his mother.
His mother said that for the rest of his life, every single day, he has something to look at on his hand that proves that someone abused him, and every person he meets will see that.
"It's a part of him and that is a fear that I don't like the idea of: a constant reminder of something painful and awful," she said.
Defense attorney Gerry Morris said Scott Hudson feels remorse.
"Of course he feels very badly for [the child], and as does his family," Morris said. "This was not an intentional act, and the jury found [it] wasn't an intentional act."
First Assistant District Attorney Jana McCown said all she had to prove is that Scott Hudson knew better.
"He got mad because [the child] was only using the cold water, and so he slapped off the cold water and turned the hot water on full blast," McCown said. "He claims he held his hands under the water, but the physical evidence showed an immersion, as opposed to the physical burn pattern."
The child's family said they are pleased the jury agreed with McCown's case.
"Justice has been served, and he will do the time for what he has done," the child's mother said.
The district attorney considered filing charges against Jennifer Hudson for failure to report child abuse, but thought that it would be too hard to prove. They believe Scott Hudson lied to her about what really happened. They say she is no longer running her unlicensed day care.
The child's family is warning others to be careful when responding to child care ads on Craigslist and to make sure the facility is licensed.
