Dad Jailed For Letting Son's Teeth Rot

An Easton man could spend as much as two years in prison for neglecting his son's dental care.

According to the Morning Call, Francisco Torres was sentenced Friday to one to two years in prison for causing a situation that deteriorated to the point that his son pulled two of his own teeth.

Now, Torres -- who entered a guilty plea last year -- says he realizes he was wrong.

"I put my kid's life in danger," Torres told Judge Michael Koury. "I love my kids with all my heart … . I thought I was ready to be a single father, but it didn't work out."

Torres, 41, of Center Street, with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child for refusing to take his 14-year-old son to the dentist.

When the boy's pain got to be too much, he removed two of his teeth with a pliers. He would later need emergency surgery to remove fragments of the teeth. 

According to police, Torres that he had insurance and transportation issues, which prevented him from taking the boy to see a dentist.

But police said Torres later showed investigators a valid insurance card. Children and Youth had provided travel vouchers to the family. The boy had to undergo emergency surgery to remove fragments of the teeth.