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Staten Island Dad Who Admitted To Putting Son In Oven Gets Jail Time

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Staten Island father was sentenced to jail time Friday after earlier pleading guilty to torturing his now 11-year-old son inside their Graniteville home last May.

It was an emotional scene inside the courtroom Friday morning as both the wife and son of 53-year-old James Moss spoke in his defense, telling a judge they didn't want him going to prison.

"I just want to be with my family," Moss said. "That's it."

The victim, Christopher Moss, said his father made a mistake and called him "caring" and a "great father," 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.  Moss' son also added "he's the only dad I need."

1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria With More On The Sentencing

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Moss was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail and given 5 years of probation.  He could have been sentenced to up to seven years in prison. He will not be allowed to live with his son for one year.

Moss admitted he hurt his son because he thought he stole $20 from his wallet.

Police said Moss ripped off his son's clothes, beat him with a spatula on his back and then held his hands up to a stove until the skin on the boy's hands began to peel.

Then, authorities said, after punching his son in the face, Moss stuffed his naked child into an oven and told him he was going to burn him alive.

Moss' wife, Erin, pleaded with the judge to spare her husband jail time and said he just snapped that day.

"He is still their father and we have come along way and it is emotional," she said. "If he's incarcerated, he will never be receive psychotherapy that's he currently receiving now."

"He has expressed complete remorse and guilt of hurting Christopher and placing a huge burden on me to maintain our home," Erin Moss said.

CBS 2's Kristen Thorne reported that the boy burst into tears when he saw his father handcuffed.

"As you can see, my son is a better man than me," Moss said.

What do you think about the sentence?  Share your thoughts in the comments section...

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