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SOUTH SALT LAKE -- A South Salt Lake man accused of chaining a mentally handicapped boy to a couch is taking a plea deal, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Tai Minh Ngo, 42, originally faced a charge of abuse or neglect of a handicapped child, which could have landed him in prison for up to five years.
Police say Ngo was the primary caregiver for the 14-year-old handicapped boy and his 12-year-old brother, who is not handicapped. The boys are Ngo's nephews.
Officers found the boy last October with a lightweight metal chain around his ankle. That ankle chain was connected to a 3-foot nylon braided rope. According to a probable cause statement from the jail, Ngo admitted he would chain the boy by his ankle or arms when he had things to do. At times, he would lock his nephew in a small room for extended periods of time.
On Monday, deal with prosecutors allowed him to enter a guilty plea in abeyance to the charge -- and a sentence of parenting classes.
If he completes those classes and commits no new crimes the charge will be wiped from his record.
