Cruel stepfather sent to the doghouse

A man who beat his stepson and forced him to sleep in a dog kennel has agreed to the same punishment in an extraordinary plea deal.

Curtis Robin was given the choice of 30 days in jail or 30 nights in the doghouse.

The deal means he will receive eight year’s probation, a fine, and must “sleep in a doghouse on his property or at Orange County Jail in Texas for 30 consecutive nights”.

Robin admitted whipping the 11-year-old boy with a car radio aerial and forcing him to sleep in a doghouse for several days. He also forced him to chop wood for hours on end.

Prosecutor said “an attempt to discipline the boy turned to abuse”.

District Attorney John Kimbrough said the actual terms of the punishment, like toilet breaks and possible telephone usage, have not been decided yet.

The doghouse, he said, would be put in front of Robin’s home in the town of Vidor – or outside a local police station. Both are public places where police will be able to monitor Robin, he said.

“We took the sentencing very seriously,” said Kimbrough, “but we don’t want it to be life threatening.”

The deal still requires a judge’s approval. Robin is due to be sentenced on March 13. The stepson is staying in Florida with relatives.