Twelve year old saves his Dad from prison

Chris Moss was 11-years-old and lived with his parents in New York. His father does part-time maintenance work and his mother is a nurse. There was no history of abuse or neglect in Chris’ family.

In 2010, Chris reportedly stole $20.00 from his father’s wallet. James Moss is 6’2″ and weighs 270 pounds. He reportedly “snapped and lost it.” He beat Chris with a spatula and placed his hands over two burners on the stove. He punched him in the face and then shoved him into the oven yelling “I’m going to burn you alive.” The oven was not turned on but Chris remained there for several minutes before he was thrown out of the house. When his mother got home, she took him to the hospital where he was treated for second and third degree burns.

James was charged with seven crimes including two counts of second degree assault that carried a possible seven-year sentence. At sentencing, James was described by his wife as a “softie” – that she was the disciplinarian in the family. Her husband was “Mr. Mom” who exhibited “uninhibited remorse” since the incident. Chris was permitted to attend the hearing in August, 2011. He was 12 years old and told the judge that his father “made a big mistake, but really somewhere in his heart, he is funny, lovable, caring, and a great father. . . Everybody in my family is giving him a second chance, will you? . . .Right now I’m crying because he is the only dad I need.”

James Moss

The judge decided to temper justice with compassion. Although the prosecutor asked for prison time, the judge thought different. James was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail followed by five years of probation. He is not to live with Chris for the first year and is to complete anger-management classes.

At his sentencing, James told the judge “My son is a better man than me. I’m very sorry for what I did.”