A Bartow County man accused of locking a 7-year-old boy in a wooden box as discipline now faces up to 50 years in prison.

Christopher Leslie was found guilty Friday on five charges, including second-degree cruelty to children and false imprisonment, The Daily Tribune News. Leslie also fed the boy cayenne pepper and strapped him down in a sleeping bag with a rope.

Leslie said he built the box because he didn't know another way to discipline the boy, according to the report. His wife, Heather Leslie, faced nine counts, but was found not guilty.

"This was actually a case where Mr. Leslie came forth and admitted to everything," Christopher Leslie's attorney, David W. Brookshire, told the newspaper. "He didn't do this with any malice or any bad intention in his heart."

Christopher Leslie faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge. He will be sentenced April 19.

About the Author

Featured

People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Jenni Girtman