A man accused in the 2022 death of a child has pled guilty and received his sentence.

James Arthur Witten pled guilty to felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree and three counts of aggravated battery in the May 1, 2022, death of 6-month-old Bryar Witten.

Witten pled guilty in Tattnall County Superior Court in front Judge Charles “Brad” Dixon on September 17 to all five counts. As a result of his plea, his charge of cruelty to children in the first degree was amended to cruelty to children in the second degree, and the sentence for his third aggravated battery charge was merged with the first count.

A Liberty County grand jury indicted Witten on September 18, 2023.

Witten received a 15year sentence, followed by 15 years of probation, for his plea to the felony murder charge. He also is subjected to a permanent protective order.

He also was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of probation for the aggravated battery charged, which will run concurrent to his sentence for his plea on the felony murder charge.

Jury selection for the trial was scheduled for September 22, and a trial was set to be held September 29–30.