Jamestown man receives prison sentence in child endangerment case

Melissa Klaric, The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 9—MERCER — A Jamestown man received a prison sentence Tuesday in the child endangerment case in which a toddler was injured by a shotgun and lost his foot.

Joseph Paul Cresswell, 40, of 614 Spring St., pleaded guilty to weapons and child endangerment charges on the day he was to go to trial.

Cresswell pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison followed by 3 years probation.

Jamestown police responded July 23 to the home for a medical call in which a toddler injured his foot with a shotgun. Jamestown police said the 1-year-old had sustained a severe leg injury, according to a state police criminal complaint.

Cresswell told a witness that he found a broken shotgun in the woods and was trying to fix it. He said he did not think any children could get to the gun, according to the complaint.

Mercer County District Attorney Peter C. Acker explained why he thought Cresswell pleaded guilty just prior to trial.

"I think he knew that I was going to display to the jury some photographs of the gun that was involved and his young son without a foot," Acker said.

The child has an artificial lower leg through Shriners Hospital in Erie. He will periodically have to have it replaced.

Acker said Cresswell had two previous felony convictions that disqualified him from being able to possess a firearm.

"He cut off the barrel, he cut off the stock, removed the trigger guard, which is designed to prevent accidental discharge of the trigger, and put it in the upstairs bedroom," Acker said. "The little baby was able to brush the trigger and cause it to discharge."

Mercer County commissioners and the Jamestown borough officials recognized Jamesteown police officer Danielle Downing last August for the life-saving measures she took when she responded to the call.

Acker said if not for Downing, the baby might have bled out and died.

Follow Melissa Klaric on twitter @HeraldKlaric or email her at mklaric@sharonherald.com