A Casper man is headed to prison after admitting to choking a young boy.

Ryan Dale Townsend was sentenced Wednesday in Natrona County District Court to 5-10 years in prison on one count of felony child abuse.

He is also set to be sentenced Monday on one count of felony marijuana possession with intent to deliver, a charge to which he previously pleaded guilty. The two sentences will run concurrently.

The original plea agreement in the child abuse case called for Townsend to be sentenced Oct. 28 to 4-8 years in prison, but the state took that deal off the table after Townsend was again accused of child abuse and assault.

Townsend's sentencing was rescheduled and a new deal was worked out between the prosecution and defense, bumping the sentence up to 5-10 years in prison and calling for the state to not pursue the most recent allegations against Townsend.

Townsend "has had a hard time complying with the rules of society," prosecutor Brett Johnson said in court Wednesday, also noting a history of domestic violence between Townsend and his significant other.

Johnson added that Townsend has two sides to him.

"There's the side that's sorry about it," Johnson said, "but there's this other side that's very dangerous."

Townsend was arrested Feb. 10 after slamming the victim's head into the ground and choking him the day before.

The Wyoming Department of Family Services ended up placing the victim with a family member after discovering that the house where the victim lived was unfit for children.

The house "was very dirty and smelled of urine and feces," according to court documents.

"We disagree a little with the full allegations in the affidavit," said Townsend's defense attorney, Kurt Infanger, in court Wednesday. When charges were filed, Infanger said, Townsend "really did step up to the plate."

"I just want to prove to people that I'm not a bad guy," Townsend told the court before he was remanded to custody. "I'm not a monster."

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