Justin Keel sentenced for child abuse

Justine Keel was sentenced in the death of Owen Reak, according to the record's department with the Mesa County Court.

On Friday morning, Keel heard how much time he'll be spending behind bars for child abuse and knowingly and recklessly causing death.

According to court records, Keel will serve 36-years in the Department of Corrections with credit for time served of 268 days.

He owes $4,780.56 in fines and restitution and will have mandatory parole for five years after his time is served.

Owen Daniel Reak passed away on April 11, 2012, while in Montrose. But the sheriff's office says, through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the injuries that caused Reak's death were sustained in Grand Junction.

Keel was the boyfriend of Owen's mother, Amber Reak, who's a Grand Junction resident. The arrest affidavit states that, during the night of the injuries, Keel was caring for Owen while Amber was at work.

Multiple family members reported seeing an increasing amount of bruises on Owen during the last two-months of his life; the time Keel began spending time with him, according to police records.

The autopsy report confirmed that Owen died from blunt force trauma of the abdomen. Forensic Pathologist Dr. Benzinger stated it was a "classic child abuse" injury.

According to Dr. Benzinger, Owen died of fatal internal bleeding and the injuries occurred within 36-hours of his death.