Arundel Digest

Man convicted in child abuse case

Annapolis - An Annapolis man who held his 3-year-old stepson in scalding water last January - resulting in burns to 47 percent of the child's body - was convicted yesterday of first-degree child abuse and second-degree assault.

It took a jury in county Circuit Court less than two hours to return the guilty verdict against Clarence Bennett, 25, of Madison Avenue. Mr. Bennett faces up to 25 years in prison for the top count.

A prosecutor said Mr. Bennett grew angry Jan. 29 because the boy had wet his pants while his wife was at work. She said he gave the boy a scalding bath,...