Derek Piskorski Accused of Scalding His Girlfriend's 3-Year-Old Boy

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May 6, 2010 at 12:26 PM
(pictures added from other sources)

OREGON CITY, Ore. -- Prosecutors showed graphic pictures in court Thursday in what they called one of the worst child abuse cases they've ever seen.

Assault, criminal mistreatment and reckless endangerment charges against 23-year-old Derek Piskorski stem from the alleged abuse of a 3-year-old boy. Piskorski was dating the child's mother.

Piskorski was accused of pouring scalding water over the child's neck, shoulders and back of his head, causing severe burns. He's also accused of putting the 3-year-old boy into a freezer.

In court Thursday, state prosecutors showed very graphic pictures of the boy's injuries. The child was treated at the hospital for a week and was living with relatives.

Investigators said the abuse happened between December and January.

The child's mother, Katey Scheurman, pleaded guilty last month for failure to intervene and sentenced to 180 days in jail along with three years' probation.

Piskorski's trial was being determined by a judge rather than a jury.

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6:24 pm May 6, 2010

OREGON CITY, Ore. -- The trial for an Oregon City man accused of stuffing a 3-year-old boy into a kitchen-sized freezer is under way, and the boy's mother said she plans to testify against the suspect.

Oregon City police said 23-year-old Derek Piskorski began dating the child's mother about six months before his arrest in January.

In addition to everyday abuse, Piskorski is accused of pouring scalding water over the child's neck, shoulders and back of his head, causing severe burns, according to a police spokesman.

"He was giving him a bath and he put my son's head under the water faucet," said Katey Scheurman, the child's mother.

Investigators said the abuse happened between December 2009 and January 2010

Dr. Susan Omura, an emergency room physician who treated the boy for his injuries, said the child showed numerous injuries from abuse. She said it was one of the most severe cases of child abuse she's ever seen.

"Bruises on his upper arms and thighs and numerous bruises on his back and bottom," Omura said.

Scheurman, 25, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of criminal mistreatment for failure to intervene in the abuse Piskorski was allegedly inflicting on her son. She said the abuse allegations are true.

"He thought it was funny," Scheurman said of the incident in which her son was stuffed into a freezer. "He giggled about it. Made it a whole joke."

When asked why she didn't step in and stop the alleged abuse, Scheurman said it was because of her love for Piskorski.

"I was stupid and I was in love," she said. "I just didn't know how to protect myself and my son."

Scheurman was sentenced to 180 days in jail, three years probation and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation. She plans to testify against Piskorski.

Piskorski remains held at the Clackamas County Jail on charges of assault, criminal mistreatment and reckless endangerment. His trial began Tuesday and his fate will be determined by a judge rather than a jury.

The boy is living with an aunt and is undergoing therapy, Scheurman said.

Again, the mother got 6 mos. in jail...that is it! There is never an excuse not to protect your child. These are wacked out, sick, twisted individuals who have no right to ever again have contact with their children.

cherylz These not moms should not be allowed to have any more children in addition to no contact with the ones they already have.

Yep, in my mind...one strike and you're out. I have totally rechanged the way I think. I believe non-violent drug crimes should be rehab'd, not in prison. Whereas crimes against the innocent...especially children and the elderly...prison...and no 2nd chances.

This is why I was infuriated with a sentence of 15 years to one of the Satsuma gang for selling some pills and this woman whose child will be emotionally scarred for LIFE (the child gets the life sentence of turmoil) gets 6 months. This is not justice - in no way
is it justice. This child wasnt killed by the grace of god,
but what he will suffer later is not known. The scars wont only be on his body. He needs 30 years she needs the 15 years -= that will fix her from having anymore children.