A Shreveport man pleaded guilty to cruelty to his son and unauthorized entry, even as jurors were being empaneled, in Caddo District Court Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
Mark Jointer, 54, admitted guilt before District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr., in connection with family violence committed on May 19, 2019. On that date, Jointer picked up his 8-year-old son for a visit. While the child was in the truck, Jointer backhanded the youth several times, injuring the child’s nose and mouth. Jointer was angered when the child mentioned that he had gone on an outing with his mother and one of her male friends.
When Jointer returned the child to his mother, he forced his way into her home, accused her of cheating on him and then beat her in the presence of the child. The child was treated at a local hospital.
Jointer was remanded into custody and next will face Judge Hathaway August 16, 2021, for a sentencing hearing. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the cruelty to juveniles charge, due to the tender age of the child. He faces up to six years in prison for the unauthorized entry.
The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office’s Special Victims Unit handled the prosecution of this case. The unit is comprised of prosecutors and investigators specially trained to handle cases involving sexual assaults and domestic violence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ron Christopher Stamps and Britney A. Green.
Jointer was defended by Edward Mouton.