SoCal Dad Pleads Guilty To Tossing Son Off Boat

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A father who tossed his 7-year-old son overboard during a Southern California harbor cruise has pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and endangerment.

The Orange County Register says Sloan Briles entered the plea Monday. Instead of jail, he was sentenced to a year in a child abuse treatment program and six months days in a residential alcohol-treatment program.

He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer.

Prosecutors said the 35-year-old Irvine man was drunk during a Newport Harbor cruise in August when he slapped his son until he cried, then threw him off the boat.

Another boat veered to avoid hitting the boy, who was thrown a life ring.

Briles claimed that he and his son were only roughhousing.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.