A one-year-old child returned home from a weekend visit with his father covered in cigar burns, lacerations, carpet burns, and bruises from head to toe. That father, Timmy Dwayne Kemp, Jr., was sentenced on February 17, 2025 to 15 years, with 10 to serve in prison, after pleading guilty to First Degree Cruelty to Children.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Breanna Foster, revealed that Kemp inflicted multiple burns, lacerations, and bruises on his infant child during the May 2022 visit. The injuries were discovered when the child was returned to his mother, with burns on the crown of the head, back, and extremities, along with numerous cuts and bruises throughout the body.
When confronted with evidence of the injuries, Kemp initially claimed the child had fallen from a kiddie pool. However, medical evidence indicated the injuries were consistent with intentional harm, including what appeared to be cigar burns on the child’s body.
The defendant entered a blind plea before Judge Smith, though he refused to provide details about how the injuries were inflicted. Under the terms of his sentence, Kemp is prohibited from having contact with the minor child or the child’s mother without appropriate legitimization.
“The physical and emotional trauma inflicted on this innocent child represents the darkest kind of betrayal,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard. “ADA Foster’s dedication to securing justice in this case reflects our office’s unwavering commitment to protecting our community’s most vulnerable members. While no sentence can undo the harm this child endured, we hope this resolution provides a measure of protection and allows the healing process to begin.”
The case was set to go to trial next week before Kemp entered his guilty plea. He was in custody on unrelated charges at the time of the plea.
