October 28, 2009 11:02 AM

Abortion Beating: Aaron Harrison Sentenced for Trying to Cause Miscarriage with Fists

By
Edecio Martinez
Topics
Daily Blotter
(AP Photo/Al Hartmann, Pool)
Photo: Aaron Harrison appears in court, Oct. 27, 2009 for sentencing.

VERNAL, Utah (CBS/AP) Aaron Harrison, of Naples, Utah, was sentenced Tuesday to up to five years in prison for beating a pregnant girl to try to cause a miscarriage.

It's horrible, but the strange twist to this crime is the expectant mother actually paid Harrison to do it, say police.

Prosecutors said a 17-year-old Uintah County girl paid Harrison $150 to beat her after her boyfriend threatened a breakup if she didn't get rid of the child.

Harrison brought the girl, who was seven months pregnant, to his home in May. He then attacked her, leaving bruises on her stomach and a bite mark on her neck, court records said. The baby survived and was born in August.

Harrison, 21, had pleaded guilty to second-degree felony attempted murder, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. But District Judge A. Lynn Payne instead sentenced him under Utah's anti-abortion statute, saying a charge of third-degree "attempted killing of an unborn child" better fit the facts of the case, The Salt Lake Tribune reported on its Web site.

"I don't think words can describe the kind of depraved conduct you entered into in trying to take the life of a child," Judge A. Lynn Payne told Harrison on Tuesday.

Harrison also was sentenced Tuesday in four unrelated cases, three of which involved third-degree felonies. He could serve up to 20 years total.

The girl, who wasn't identified because she was a juvenile, pleaded no contest in June to a second-degree felony count of criminal solicitation to commit murder. Juvenile Court Judge Larry Steele ordered her to be placed in the custody of Utah Juvenile Justice Services until she was 21.

But Steele this month had the girl released from jail after ruling that she was seeking an abortion and was therefore not criminally liable.

Steele called the girl's actions "shocking and crude" in a ruling. But he said that under state law, "a woman who solicits or seeks to have another cause an abortion of her own unborn child cannot be criminally liable."

The judge granted attorney Rich King's motion to withdraw the girl's plea and release her from detention. King contends the teen didn't do what prosecutors allege and wouldn't be liable if she did.

The girl, who is now 18, is seeking custody of the baby, the Tribune reported.

What do you think? Should the mother be criminally liable for seeking an abortion by having someone beat the fetus through her belly? Should she be allowed custody of her child?




Add a Comment
by airbabe101 October 9, 2011 1:04 PM EDT
IN MY OPINION: The girl who did this lives in my town and she lived here when it happened. She is a disgusting psychotic pig and what she did will never be forgiven she did it for no other reason but she is a selfish child. The man who was going to leave her had already left her more than four months before this happened. She is a very sick individual and how the "justice" system let her go is beyond me. She didnt only seek an abortion but she acted upon it and even better the state did allow her to keep her child she chose to give it away. I guess she didn't have any realization in the court rooms after all. Judge steele's decision will continue to amaze me as will it that she ever even made that decision. As a mother it is our responsibility to protect that child thats why they are in our bellies! Even worse she had a family to adopt the child it wasn't even a burden to her. The worst thing is that she didn't do it for the boy, or because she was scared of the responsibility , her family was supportive of her and her younger sister who at 2 years younger managed to step up and be a grown woman for her daughter. This pathetic girl did it for her, so she could go back to partying ditching school and becoming a useless member of society, Not that much as changed since, seeing as how she is still a useless member of society in and out of jail while hard working decent people pay taxes to bathe her while she's in there. Here shortly we will all be paying for her drug rehab as well. and as for Aaron Harrison he is responsible for his actions and they were just as wrong as hers he had a choice to say no, but as least he got the charges and time he deserved.
Reply to this comment
by maccount November 10, 2009 3:01 PM EST
This young woman doesn't deserve being called a "Mother"! One day she'll come to regret what she did - what goes around comes around! When a woman is pregnant, she's carrying around that unborn baby in her womb for 9 months, her flesh & blood - how could you not feeling any love growing inside of you for your unborn baby? Are you that COLD and heartless? All of this for a boyfriend, where is he now with someone else? What a dam shame when there are women out there that would like to have children, but can't - question: did you mother throw you away?
Reply to this comment
by linfinster October 29, 2009 1:54 AM EDT
I don't know what it more disgusting, the three involved in this "abortion" in the 7th month, or the system that allows the "mother" to go free and possibly give her the child she tried to murder.
Reply to this comment
by fueildoasije October 29, 2009 1:17 AM EDT
NOW the mother wants the baby? Why do I question her motives? I guess the baby is worth more alive than dead, since they weren't able to kill it. JAnd, as for the slime ball who insisted that his girlfriend abort a 7-month fetus with the threat that he would break-up with her if she didn't- now there's a pregnancy that should have been aborted!
Reply to this comment
by HoveyJovey October 28, 2009 4:34 PM EDT
This "man" is just a monster. No respect for life. Add to this that it was an unborn child and it's even more outrageous. What disturbs me the most is that this "girl" is no less of a monster than the man she paid! Who pays someone to punch their child to death while in still in the womb? To just have someone try to kill her child then her child could have been the victim of a murder for hire plot. This sickens me and once again I find another reason to view humanity for what the majority seem to be; Sick, Depraved and Befouled shells of what was once a divine design. I cannot explain how wonderful the day will be when when all the smut is cleansed from these days. God be with you all.
Reply to this comment
.
Latest CBS News Headlines Popular CBS News Stories
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News

Follow Crimesider

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
48 Hours New iPad app A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...