A grandmother who assaulted her grandson with a billiard stick, a piece of 2X4 and a piece of metal in separate incidents was sentenced to serve 20 months in jail, as part of her five-year probation.

Priscilla Schwalger, A.K.A. Sila Aiono, was facing charges of second-degree assault, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. In a plea agreement last month the defendant pleaded guilty to felonious second degree assault while the remaining count was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

During the plea agreement, defendant Schwalger admitted that between November 2011 and September 2013, she assaulted her 11-year old grandson using a hard object. She admitted she struck her grandson on his head, his face and his body, and there was a time she had used a billiard stick, a piece of 2X4 and a piece of metal. The assault left bruises on her grandson’s body and scars as a result.

According to the government’s case, this matter came to light when an incident involving a ten-year-old boy was reported to Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division, Lavata’i Ta’ase Sagapolutele, by Child Protective Services with the Department of Human and Social Services, and Detective Leaupepetele Vili Fa’apouli was assigned to investigate the matter.

The young boy told police his grandmother began beating him when he first moved into the Schwalger’s house at the age of ten, with the last incident on Sept. 22, 2013. He was not taken to the hospital for any of his injuries, until Sept. 24, 2013.

In the last incident, it’s alleged the boy was assaulted for not memorizing his memory (Bible) verse. The victim was struck on the buttocks four times with a board and as a result, the victim’s buttocks and backside were swollen and bruised and the boy was unable to sit. lay down or use the restroom due to the severity of the beating. “The victim’s injuries were photographed, which showed new and old injuries including bald and bloody areas on his head, scars throughout his body and a deep bruise on his buttocks area.”

Court filings say the victim also recalled an incident where his grandmother struck his head with a stick several times and he sustained a cut on his head, for losing her pet chicken.

On Sept. 24, 2013, the victim was finally seen at the hospital, and his injures noted by a pediatrician.

“The victim suffered from new and old head wounds in different stages of healing, including fresh bleeding wounds.

“There was also an old burn scar on the left shoulder, scars and scratches on the right side of the victim’s face, old scars on the back and right forearm, and scars on both knees from kneeling punishment,” the doctor wrote.

According to the government’s case, when the victim was in the hospital for a second check-up, another physician's evaluation observed scars and signs of physical trauma.

There were also lacerations mentioned in the evaluation and multiple scars of varying ages from traumatic injuries — with some injuries to the head, scalp and elbows appearing to be somewhat recent due to scabs on top of the healing lacerations and scars.

During sentencing the defendant apologized in tears and informed the court that she would not repeat this behavior as her five months incarceration has taught her huge lesson.

The court heard from the grandmother that she spanked her grandson to teach him discipline as a mother.

Schwalger apologized to her grandson for what happened and said she’s sorry.

Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield did not object to the probation for the defendant but pointed out that this case does warrant additional jail time. The prosecutor informed the court that she saw photos of the young child involved and saw scars on the young boy from the assault.

The Chief Justice pointed out that between November 2011 and November 2013 this young boy suffered from physical abuse, and the court said this type of action should not be done to any human being. Also noted, was the striking of the victim with a brick, kneeling on the concrete outside the house, and the assault.

Kruse further stated that a representative from the Probation office visited the young child in Apia, where the probation officer saw first hand the scars on the victim.

However despite the incidents, the victim told the probation officer that he has forgiven his grandmother.

The CJ further pointed out to the defendant that her plea that she was suffering inside the jail, does not live up to the suffering the young boy (her grandson) encountered when he was physically abused by her.

Kruse sentenced the defendant to five years in jail, however execution of sentence was suspended and the defendant placed on probation for five years under the condition that she serve 20 months in jail.

She was also ordered to remain a law abiding citizen and not to physically abuse any of her grandchildren.