Grand Haven man who left infant in freezing car sentenced to year in jail
GRAND HAVEN — A local father was sentenced to a year in jail for leaving his four-month-old baby in the backseat of a car in freezing conditions in January.
Philip Nass III, 32, and Crystal Kanouse, 30, were passed out in the front seats of a car under the influence of methamphetamine, according to the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.
The vehicle was turned off and their baby was in the backseat, unsecured in an infant carrier without winter clothing, socks or a blanket.
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A bystander saw what was happening and called 911. When responders arrived, the baby's feet were blue and his skin was cold to the touch, GHDPS said. He was transported to Trinity Health Grand Haven for treatment and has since recovered.
Nass and Kanouse were charged with second degree child abuse, a felony carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Nass was also charged with being a habitual offender, which could have led to a life sentence.
Kanouse pleaded not guilty April 10. She is scheduled for a plea hearing on May 8.
Nass pleaded no contest earlier this month to a charge of fourth degree child abuse, while the initial charges of second degree child abuse and fourth degree habitual offender were dropped. He was sentenced on Tuesday, April 25.
“The system can't just take a blind eye to what your actions have been up to this point,” Ottawa County 58th District Judge Craig Bunce said Tuesday, referencing Nass’ criminal record — previous drug charges and a prison sentence. “You've had multiple opportunities with the justice system to address the issues here and you've chosen not to do that while on probation, on multiple occasions.
“Fortunately, your child was not harmed in any significant way as a result of your actions this time, but you placed your child in a significant position of harm, had not police come on scene or a bystander come along the scene in this instance.”
Nass tearfully told Bunce he wanted to pursue drug rehabilitation, instead of being “thrown away to jail.”
“I'm glad that you're upset because that at least shows you care about what's going to happen in your life,” Bunce said. “I need you to understand something loud and clear. If I follow the recommendation, it's not that I'm throwing you away in jail. You will be addressing the situation you caused yourself to be placed in.”
Referencing the 12-step drug and alcohol program available through the Ottawa County Jail, Bunce encouraged Nass to address his addiction while incarcerated.
“You will have the ability to process your issues while at the jail,” Bunce said. “I think it's the safest place for you right now, and the safest place, quite frankly, for your family and for the community.”
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Nass was sentenced to a year in jail, with credit for two months he's already served on the matter.
“Mr. Nass, this should give you ample opportunity to prepare yourself for when you do get released, so that you can live that life of sobriety and prove to the community, and to your family, that you can resist going back to the old ways,” Bunce said.
— Sentinel reporter Mitchell Boatman contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Grand Haven man who left infant in freezing car sentenced to year in jail
