An Andalusia man charged with using a steam iron and bamboo walking cane to abuse his child has pled guilty to criminal charges and been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The Andalusia Police Department charged Jerry Cowan, then 48, with domestic violence II and aggravated child abuse last September after the abuse was reported to the Department of Human Resources, and the two agencies interviewed the child at school.

Lt. Paul Dean, who investigated the case, said at the time it was the worst case of physical abuse he or anyone else investigating the case had ever seen.

“People look at the pictures and just gasp,” he said.

Cowan, was represented by Larry Grissett, told investigators he “spanked the child a little too hard.”

Grace Jeter, chief assistant district attorney, who prosecuted the case, said, “I cannot imagine the horror that this child endured at the hands of his own father.

“I have seen pictures of prisoners of war who were not scarred and mutilated like this child was,” she said. “If you think about all the pictures you have ever sent of torture victims, you will have an idea of what this child’s body looks like. Jerry Cowan belongs in prison.”

Cowan’s case was among 40 criminal cases disposed of in Covington County Circuit Court this week after plea agreements were reached. They include:

• Jeffrey O. Pate pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Jackie Cook Jr. pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 32 months probation. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Karen Bennett pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to six years in prison. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Gregory Harper pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 32 months probation. Attorney: Stephanie Cotton.

• Jessica Sutton Grooms pled guilty to manufacture of a controlled substance I, for which she received a 15-year sentence, and possession of marijuana II, for which she received a one-year sentence. Attorney: John Peek.

• Daniel Todd pled guilty to theft of property III and fraudulent use of a credit card, for which he received three years probation. Attorney: Chris Sledge.

• Jasmine Byrd pled guilty to forgery II and received 30 months probation. Attorney: Will Carr.

• Curtis Lee Dortch pled guilty of robbery III for which he received a 15-year prison sentence. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Phillip Grantham pled guilty to electronic solicitation of a child, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence. Attorney: Will Carr.

• Travis McKenzie pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, for which he received a 15-year prison sentence. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Kim Blocker pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which she received a 10-year prison sentence. Attorney: Deb Smith.

• Denarieya Letrex Smith pled guilty to receiving stolen property II, for which he received a 10-year sentence; breaking and entering a vehicle, for which he received a seven-year sentence; and burglary III, for which he received a 10-year sentence. Attorneys: Stephanie Cotton, Trey Burgess and Manish Patel, respectively.

• Tonya Harrell pled guilty to theft of property II, for which she received a 10-year sentence. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Anthony Montrell Scott pled guilty to burglary III, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence. Attorney: Gypsy Smith.

• Juanita Bleichroth pled guilty to two counts of possession of marijuana I and received three years probation. Attorney: Riley Powell.

• Jeffrey Schofield pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which he received a 10-year prison sentence. Attorney: Sonny James.

• Tommy Jason Sutton pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which he received 15 years probation. Attorney: Manish Patel.

• Joseph Blake Nowell pled guilty to burglary III and theft of property I, for which he received 10- and 15-year sentences. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• Terry McClain was sentenced to prison for his guilty plea to burglary III (three years), criminal mischief III (six months), and distribution of a controlled substance (13 years). Attorneys: Grady Lanier and Manish Patel.

•  Arthur Lee Hunter pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Johnny Halford pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which he received a prison sentence of six years. Attorney: Gypsy Smith.

• Donnie Dewayne Hay pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which he received a prison sentence of 32 months. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• David Fritz Otto pled guilty to possession of burglar’s tools, for which he received a 15-year sentence.

• Robert Alton Davenport was sentenced to prison for his guilty pleas to theft of property II (15 years), and two counts of forgery II (15 years each). Attorney: Meredith Peters.

• Melissa Hudson pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, received 32 months probation and was transferred to drug court. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Casey Davison pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, received 32 months probation and was transferred to drug court. Attorney: Meredith Peters.

• Jeremy Michael Norton pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, received 32 months probation and was transferred to drug court. Attorney: Grady Lanier.

• Joseph Ray Smith II, pled guilty to theft of property I, for which he received a 46-month prison sentence. Attorney: Benton Persons.

• Christopher Parkin pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, for which he received five years probation. Attorney: Manish Patel.

• Bobby Ray Tyson was sentenced for his guilty pleas to receiving stolen property II (20 years) and theft of property I (20 years). Attorneys: Grady Lanier and ChaLea Tisdale.

• Jimmy Darrell Miles pled guilty to forgery III, for which he received two years probation. Attorney: David Baker.

• Ronnie Crawley pled guilty to theft of property I, for which he received 18 months probation. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Christopher Barnes was sentenced for his guilty pleas to possession of a controlled substance (five years), possession of marijuana I (five years) and rape II (10 years). Attorneys: Grady Lanier and Deb Smith.

• Charles Wheeler pled guilty to violation of the sex offender notification act, for which he received a six-year prison sentence. Attorney: Chris Sledge.

• Tracy Lee Soto pled guilty to theft of property II, and received an eight-year sentence. Soto, who was represented by Bill Alverson, is applying for probation.

• Lee Elbert Carthon pled guilty to rape I, for which he received a 20-year prison sentence. Attorney: Gypsy Smith.

• Michael Lamar Weaver pled guilty to manufacture of a controlled substance II, for which he received a 15-year sentence. He is applying for probation. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Rodney Sanchez Wiley pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, for which he received 12 years probation. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Mark Jacob Seaney pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance, for which he received a six-year sentence. He is applying for probation. Attorney: Trey Burgess.