TALBOT CO., Maryland – A Talbot County judge has sentenced a man convicted of child abuse to house arrest.
We’re told Earl Kautz was convicted of first-degree child abuse and other related charges on March 28. Despite Maryland’s sentencing guidelines and the prosecutor’s recommendation of 12 to 25 years in prison, Kautz was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but five years of house arrest suspended, meaning Kautz will not have to serve any jail or prison time.
The three-day trial centered on allegations that Kautz abused a 1-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. The trial reportedly included eyewitness testimony from the 13-year-old and her mother, as well as expert medical testimony from the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department. Evidence showed the 13-year-old was interviewed by Talbot County Social Services in May 2023. After the interview, a boy, then 18 months old, was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a skeletal examination, which revealed healing fractures in both of the child’s tibias. Experts found the fractures strongly suggestive of non-accidental injuries.
Witnesses also testified that they saw Kautz shake the child several times in 2022 and that they noticed bruises on the child’s body. The 13-year-old also testified that Kautz picked her up and pushed her against a wall in a fit of rage.
Kautz was found guilty on all counts, including two counts of first-degree child abuse, one count of second-degree child abuse, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of reckless endangerment. In addition, Kautz was convicted of possession of child pornography.
