Former Nurse Sentenced for Child Abuse | Austin News

A former Austin nurse, Mark Andrew Avery, 61, got three and a half years for brutally abusing a non-verbal 9-year-old boy with cerebral palsy—striking, choking, and even shaking his breathing tube—all caught on camera. The child’s mom discovered the abuse after spotting a bruise and reviewing footage, while the day nurse warned of escalating injuries. Medical experts confirmed the child felt pain and had no explanation for the bruises, and Avery’s suctioning was deemed dangerous. Originally facing 99 years, Avery accepted a plea deal for a third-degree felony, reducing his max sentence to 10 years. After five hours of deliberation, the jury sentenced him to 3.5 years—a verdict the victim’s mother called too light given the evidence. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/001782e73187cb64