An Alden father who admitted to shaking his 4-month-old son will serve four years in prison.

Joseph Jurek pleaded guilty to reckless assault of a child and criminal possession of marijuana last month and was sentenced Thursday.

He had faced up to seven years in prison. In addition to the four-year sentence, he’ll be on probation for two years after his release.

Jurek, 28, apologized before his sentencing, saying he “didn’t meant for any of this to happen” and that he’s ready to serve his time.

The judge added an order of protection to the sentence, meaning he won’t be able to see his wife and their child for 12 years.

 

 

Police say Jurek shook his infant son on at least two occasions, the most recent of which was in January. Court documents show he shook the baby until he was unconscious and then waited an hour until the child’s mother got home to say anything about the incident.
 
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says there’s no winner in this case.

"You're basically taking away a father from his child, which doesn't give me any pleasure, but unfortunately the facts of this case deserve that,” Flynn said. “He deserves the four years that he got in jail, he deserves the two years of post-release supervision and he deserves the order of protection until 2030. His actions that evening were despicable."

Jurek now has 30 days to appeal the sentence and the order of protection.