A North Carolina man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to handcuffing an 11-year-old boy to a porch with a dead chicken around his neck.
Dorian Harper, 58, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three felony counts, including child abuse, assault and maiming.
Police said Harper, who was dating the child’s guardian, cuffed the boy to the porch in November 2013 as a punishment.
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Wanda Larson, 58, was also arrested after deputies found the boy chained to the home in Union County.
Harper, who had rejected an earlier plea deal from prosecutors, changed his mind just as opening statements were set to begin at his trial on Wednesday.
A jury had been selected to hear the case on Tuesday.
Harper told the judge on Wednesday that he was sorry for his actions.
Larson, who faces similar charges, has pleaded not guilty.
She had been working as a supervisor at Union County’s Department of Social Services when she took custody of the boy. (Sky News)