"Why Didn't You Catch the Ball?"... Coach Fined for Hitting 11-Year-Old with Baseball Bat

Incheon District Court Sentences 5 Million Won Fine
Bruises on Victim Child's Buttocks and Thighs

The coach of a Little League baseball team was found guilty of child abuse for hitting an 11-year-old player with an aluminum baseball bat because the player failed to catch the ball properly.

On the 12th, Judge Kwak Kyung-pyeong of the Criminal Division 2 at Incheon District Court announced that he sentenced A (32), the Little League baseball team coach, to a fine of 5 million won on charges of aggravated child abuse under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes and others. He also ordered A to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article [Image source=Pixabay]

A was brought to trial on charges of abusing player B (11) by hitting his thigh and buttocks with an aluminum baseball bat at a baseball training ground in Incheon on June 13, 2021. It was investigated that during defensive training, A assaulted B to the extent that bruises formed because B failed to catch the ball properly.

In court, A denied the charges, stating, "I only pushed B with the baseball bat to direct his movement, not to hit him." However, the court did not accept this claim, stating that B’s testimony was credible and consistent with other evidence. Judge Kwak explained, "The victim child gave consistent and detailed statements to the investigative agency and in court, which are credible. It is difficult to find any reason for false testimony, and the photos of B’s injuries correspond with the statements."

A also claimed that he was not subject to aggravated punishment under the Special Act on Child Abuse, but this was dismissed.

Judge Kwak stated, "The Little League baseball team the defendant was in charge of is a nonprofit corporation established by a local government with youth activities as its main business. It qualifies as a youth organization under the Child Abuse Punishment Act, and the defendant is subject to aggravated punishment as a mandatory reporter of abuse." Regarding the sentencing, he explained, "The degree of the defendant’s abusive behavior cannot be considered light. However, considering that this was a first offense and it does not appear that he intended to harass B from the beginning."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.