Benton City man convicted of choking young grandson, attacking child’s mother while drunk

A 48-year-old Benton City man was convicted of choking his 4-year-old grandson and then punching the boy’s mother while drunk.

After a weeklong trial, a jury took a little less than two hours to find James C. Forney guilty of second-degree assault of a child, fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief. They also found the crimes were acts of domestic violence.

He faces between 6 1/2 years and 8 1/2 years in prison when he’s sentenced. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30.

The crime happened on July 10 in a Benton City mobile home park on 14th Street. Forney and his two grandsons, a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, were sitting in the living room of a trailer.

Forney was extremely drunk that night, and “struggled greatly to maintain his balance,” court documents said.

It’s unknown what prompted the attack, but the older boy told investigators that Forney strangled and punched him. The attack made the child vomit.

Forney has a history of committing similar crimes involving children, Deputy Prosecutor Brittnie Roehm told the Tri-City Herald.

The boy ran screaming to a back bedroom where his mother was. He told her about the attack.

When she went into the living room to confront Forney, he denied it and became angry and aggressive. The woman became scared and tried to get away from him, but Forney followed her.

She tried to get out the back sliding door, but found it was locked, she said. Forney pushed her down and then punched her in the face, court documents said.

She managed to get around Forney and out the front door. She went running down the street looking for help. She ended up at a neighboring lot where she called 911.

Forney denied the attack, saying he was watching television with the boys when their mother “flipped out on him,” court documents said. He told Benton County deputies that he argued with the woman and told her to leave. He denied that the argument ever became physical.

He continued to deny committing the crime during the trial.