Texas father sentenced to six years for brutally beating two-year-old son for playing with dolls

Francisco Ricardo Soell, a 23-year-old father, faced judgment on charges of family violence and assault after brutally beating his two-year-old son. The incident, driven by Soell’s misguided belief that his son might be gay, occurred in a context that involved significant scrutiny and legal intervention.

The events originated from Soell’s distress over his young son’s preference for playing with dolls and kitchen sets over traditionally masculine toys such as cars and soccer balls. Acting on these insecurities, Soell admitted to physically assaulting his son, striking the child in the face multiple times, which resulted in a nosebleed. This information surfaced when Soell texted the child’s mother about his actions, hinting at the violence and indicating her likely disapproval.

Charged with family violence and assault, Soell faced severe allegations. The police report not only confirmed the nature of the abuse but also disclosed a pattern of similar behaviour aimed at “toughening up” the young boy. This issue prompted concerns about both the immediate violence and its longer-term psychological impact on the child.

During the court session, Soell’s defence attorney, identified only as Matthew, requested deferred adjudication—an alternative to a prison sentence that involves probation and possibly avoiding a conviction. Matthew underscored Soell’s plea of no contest and framed his client’s actions as influenced by drug use, which allegedly impaired his judgment. Soell addressed the court, expressing remorse and noting recent efforts to change his life through church attendance. He also mentioned having a newborn child and his desire to mend family ties.

Prosecutor Zack countered these arguments by advocating for a six-year sentence, stressing the harm inflicted on the child and the seriousness of the crime.

Judge Boyd delivered a stringent ruling after evaluating Soell’s criminal history, which included previous domestic violence incidents. Emphasising the severity of Soell’s actions and the lack of learning from prior probationary periods, which included mandatory courses on violent behaviour, she sentenced him to six years in prison.

Judge Boyd expressed her condemnation of Soell’s beliefs and actions, highlighting the inappropriateness and harm of associating innocuous play activities with sexuality. She pointed out the absurdity of considering cooking—a universal life skill—as indicative of homosexuality, even referencing famous male chefs as counterexamples.

Beyond the prison term, Judge Boyd imposed several restrictions on Soell. These included no contact orders, barring any interaction with his children and other minors during and post-incarceration. For Soell, a non-citizen, further complications might arise with immigration authorities post-release.

The judge advised Soell against having more children if he could not adequately support them emotionally, mentally, and financially. Her ruling stressed the importance of reassessing his perspectives on parenthood to prevent future harm.