Man Accused Of Punching Kid Convicted Of Child Endangerment

A man accused of has been convicted of a misdemeanor count of child endangerment.

Aaron Vitolo, 24, of Eastlake, appeared today in . He pleaded no contest to the charge, which had been reduced from a felony, and Judge John Trebets found him guilty.

Trebets ordered Vitolo to get anger management counseling and to earn his GED, according to court documents.

The judge did not sentence Vitolo Thursday. However, when he does, he could send Vitolo to Lake County Jail for as much as six months.

Vitolo was watching his friend's three children when he got into an argument with the 10-year-old boy, Mentor Police Lt. Tim Allen said

Vitolo struck the boy for being disrespectful, Allen said. Vitolo claimed he only smacked the boy but the child said Vitolo punched him.

When the child's parents got home, they saw he had a bruised nose and a swollen lip, Allen said.

They took the child to the hospital where the doctor said he had a concussion, Allen said.