Man gets 20 years in child abuse case

A Dorchester County man accused of stomping on the genital areas of two children was sentenced this week to 20 years in prison.

Eddie Francisco Torres, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, and one count of infliction of great bodily injury upon a child.

In addition to his prison time, Torres was placed on the child abuse registry and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Torres was arrested May 13, 2008, by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office after the children's grandmother contacted law enforcement to report child abuse.

He was accused of seriously injuring the children by stomping on their genital areas. The victims were 5 and 6 years old when the attack took place.

Torres' case was scheduled for trial when he entered a guilty plea before 1st Circuit Judge Diane S. Goodstein in St. George.

First Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jean Popowski commended the work of the Sheriff's Office and "the brave young victims who had the courage and willingness to testify against their abuser."