West Fargo man gets 7 years for injuring 4-month-old

A West Fargo man was sentenced in Cass County District Court to seven years in prison for injuring a 4-month-old boy.

Lawrence St. John Jr., who was 20 when he was charged in August with aggravated assault, pleaded guilty to the charge this week.

He told authorities he picked up the boy by his throat, threw him face down on a bed and then picked him up by the back of the neck and shoved him into the floor, according to court records.

The records also state St. John told police he was angered by the child because he was hoping to have sex with the boy's mother and the child's fussing was interfering.

The child, who survived the assault, suffered a collapsed lung and a partially crushed windpipe, according to police.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of eight years, while St. John's attorney had recommended five years.

Judge Wade Webb sentenced St. John to seven years, followed by three years of supervised probation.

One condition of release will be that St. John undergo a mental evaluation and follow any recommendations.