Bloomington man gets 45 years in son's death

BLOOMINGTON -- A McLean County judge has sentenced a Bloomington man to 45 years in prison for the beating death of his 15-month-old son.

The defendant, 23-year-old George Autman, had pleaded guilty in the May 27, 2008, death of young Antwan Liddell. The 45-year-sentence ordered Friday by Circuit Judge Robert Frietag was the maximum available under Autman's plea agreement.

Autman's attorneys Carla Harvey and Brian McEldowney argued that Autman could be rehabilitated. They contended the child's injuries were the result of disciplinary efforts that went terribly wrong.

Autman told police he struck Antwan for hitting his sister in the face. But prosecutor Jane Foster said the extensive bruises, contusions and head injuries chronicled in a medical report did not fit Autman's account of the child's death.