Coeur d’Alene man sentenced for hitting boy with trailer

A Coeur d’Alene man was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in jail for leaving the scene of a May 2009 accident in which a 5-year-old boy was run over by a boat trailer at the Blackwell Island boat launch. Anthony James Judge, 33, was sentenced by Kootenai County 1st District Judge John Mitchell, who also ordered five years of supervised probation. Judge also must pay $4,040 in restitution and $800 in fees, as well as perform 300 hours of community service, a news release from the Kootenai County prosecutor’s office said. “The incident could have resulted in a much more serious injury,” Prosecutor Barry McHugh said in a prepared statement. “With the busy boating season approaching, this case is a reminder to all of us to be careful and patient when using the area boat launches.” Judge was convicted by a jury two months ago for hitting the boy with his boat trailer after pulling a boat out of the water on May 31, 2009. Judge denied having hit the boy, who suffered broken facial bones, scrapes and bruises, the release said. Mitchell left open the possibility of further restitution for two years in case the boy needs additional medical treatment, the release said.