A formal sentencing hearing was held Friday for former Adams County Deputy Sheriff David Morrow, 31, whose 5-year prison sentence for assaulting a 15-year-old boy was reduced to 2 years probation.

Morrow previously was sentenced to the minimum mandatory five years in prison after a jury convicted him of second-degree assault, third-degree assault and child abuse (M2) following a trial in August.

Adams County District Judge Katherine Delgado granted a motion to reconsider the sentence filed by Morrow’s defense attorney and reduced the sentence to probation in an April 3 written order. The District Attorney’s Office opposed the reconsideration of sentence.

“We are disappointed in the court’s ruling,” said District Attorney Dave Young. “We stated our objections to the reconsideration of the defendant’s sentence at the hearing on March 5. The jury convicted the defendant of an offense that carries a mandatory sentence. It’s unfortunate that this was not recognized in the re-sentencing ruling.”

As conditions of probation, Morrow must undergo anger management counseling, participate in a victim empathy group, pay restitution for the victim’s medical bills and have no contact with the victim or his family. The victim was not present at Friday’s hearing.

On June 12, 2011 at about 1:10 a.m. Morrow responded to a call about a disturbance at 8790 Welby Road in Adams County. According to court records and evidence presented during the trial, the 15-year-old boy, who appeared highly intoxicated, was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to the hospital because parent contact information could not be obtained from him. The ambulance attendant had restrained the juvenile’s hands and feet because of his verbally combative behavior. Morrow struck the juvenile on the face with a closed fist as he passed by the teen who was restrained on the ambulance gurney.

Morrow was placed on administrative leave without pay on July 12, 2011, after charges were filed by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and was later fired.