CAITLYN CLARK - 2 yo (2008) - Tucson AZ

A Tucson man who admitted causing a life-threatening braininjury to a 2-year-old girl two years ago said Tuesday that he is"filled with sorrow and regret," minutes before being sentenced to20 years in prison. Michael Lynn Evans, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of childabuse. He was facing a mandatory prison sentence of five to 15years on one count, but he was eligible for probation on the secondcount. Pima County Superior Court Judge Charles Sabalos sentenced himto two consecutive 10-year sentences, citing the circumstances ofthe crime and the lingering impact on the child and her family. "You need to be far from children a significant amount of time,"Sabalos said. According to a pre-sentence report, Pima County sheriff'sdeputies found Caitlyn Clark unresponsive at a home near WestWetmore Road and North La Cholla Boulevard on June 24, 2008. Theyalso found a hole in the wall two feet above her bed that was 3inches in diameter. Doctors discovered 36 bruises on the girl's body, a new skullfracture and an older skull fracture and bleeding in the brain,court documents state. The girl was taken to University Medical Center and latertransferred to Phoenix Children's Hospital. She suffered partialparalysis, which forced her to learn how to walk again. Courtdocuments indicate she still suffers from a speech impediment,memory issues, balance problems and emotional issues. Evans, who was living with the girl's mother, told deputies hefound Caitlyn unresponsive after hearing a loud noise from herbedroom and assumed she'd hit her head on the wall while jumping.He said his 2-year-old son or their puppy must have caused theother bruises. Caitlyn spent almost a month in the hospital before being takenin by foster parents. She now lives with her mother. Deputy Pima County Attorney Ryan Schmidt told Sabalos that Evansnow claims Caitlyn was throwing a temper tantrum so he dropped herfrom a standing position onto a mattress on the floor, but her headmissed the mattress. Defense attorney Jack Lansdale asked for leniency, citing Evans'age, lack of criminal history and family support. Evans "apparentlylost control of himself" for a split second, Lansdale said. The hole in the wall was caused by Evans' fist, not Caitlyn'shead, Lansdale said. He suggested a five-year prison sentencefollowed by probation.