Newton man sentenced to 15 years for child endangerment felonies

A Newton man charged with three counts of child endangerment has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Christopher L. Riggs, 29, was arrested June 16, 2015 after being accused of punching a 2-year-old child in the genitals, hitting a 4-year-old child in the mouth and sexually abusing an 11-year-old child.

He entered an Alford Plea for the three child endangerment felonies, allowing him not to admit guilt but acknowledge there is enough evidence for a conviction. A second-degree sexual abuse charge was reduced to a child endangerment charge.

According to police reports, the child’s mother said Riggs punched the 2-year-old in the genitals, causing a bruise. When officers spoke to the 11-year-old victim, she said Riggs hit the 4-year-old in the mouth, causing a swollen, split lip and a loose tooth.

When asked by officers if he had ever done anything to her, the victim said three to four weeks before his arrest he sexually assaulted her, according to a police report. Riggs allegedly told the victim she could not tell anyone because, “I could go to jail for a long time.”

He also faced two counts of suborning perjury for allegedly pressuring and coercing two juveniles into providing false testimony. Both of those charges were dismissed.

Riggs is ordered to pay $2,250 in court fines and all court costs and fees. The department of corrections will determine whether Riggs should undergo sex offender treatment programming. A five-year no-contact order with each of the three victims is in place.

Contact Abigail Pelzer at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or apelzer@newtondailynews.com