From the Talbot County State's Attorney's Office:
Despite the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines and the State’s Attorney’s recommendation of 12 to 25 years in prison, the Honorable Judge Broughton Earnest sentenced Earl Kautz to ten years with all suspended but five years of home detention. This means that Mr. Kautz will not do any time in jail or prison for his crimes. Earl Andrew Kautz of Easton, Maryland was convicted of First Degree Child Abuse and related charges after a three-day trial ending on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Talbot County State’s Attorney Joseph I. Coale and Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Wilson prosecuted the case, which involved allegations that Mr. Kautz abused a one-year-old boy as well as assaulted a 13-year-old girl, both of whom lived with him at the time.
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The trial included eyewitness testimony of the 13-year-old and her mother, as well as expert medical testimony by the Medical Director of Pediatric Urgent Care Services at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After presentation of the evidence and arguments by opposing counsel, Mr. Kautz was found guilty on all charges, including two counts of 1st degree child abuse, one count of 2nd degree child abuse, two counts of 2nd degree assault and one count of Reckless Endangerment.
Evidence produced at trial showed that an interview of the 13-year-old was conducted by the Talbot County Department of Social Services on May 9, 2023. After that interview, the male victim, who was then 18 months old, was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a skeletal survey. The survey, as well as a second survey 2 weeks later, revealed healing fractures in both of the child’s tibias. The fractures were deemed highly indicative of non-accidental injury by the experts at Hopkins.
Witnesses at trial testified to observing Mr. Kautz shaking the child on multiple occasions in 2022. Witnesses also testified to observing bruising on the child’s body when the child returned from visitations with Mr. Kautz. The 13-year-old victim testified that Mr. Kautz also picked her up in a fit of rage and shoved her against a wall. Sentencing did not occur until August 21, 2024, due to postponements granted to the defense over the State’s objection. The two First Degree Child Abuse charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years each. In addition, Mr. Kautz was sentenced on charges of 2nd Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Child Abuse, and Reckless Endangerment. Later that day, Mr. Kautz was also sentenced by Judge Earnest on charges of Possession of Child Pornography.
State’s Attorney Joseph I. Coale stated, ‘I am profoundly disappointed by the sentence in this case. The lawyers, doctors, social workers, detectives and the victim’s family all put in countless hours of work to bring this case to trial and obtain convictions on all counts. We presented all the evidence to the Court and made a recommendation of a lengthy prison sentence. In the end, the Judge has sole discretion over what sentence to impose.’
