Desie Horton sentenced to 180 days in jail, 3 years probation in child death case

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A four-year-old murder and child abuse case in Visalia is near its end. On Friday, Desie Horton was sentenced to six months in jail and three years' probation.

Desie is the mother of Jimmy Horton-- a three-year-old little boy who suffered severe head injuries in March of 2013 that later resulted in his death. Prosecutors said Desie's ex-boyfriend Trevor Bishop assaulted the young boy and back in April, he was found guilty of second degree murder.

RELATED: Man accused of killing girlfriend's 4-year-old son found guilty of 2nd degree murder

Jimmy's father, James Horton, was in court when the judge handed down the sentence for his ex-wife, claiming she failed to protect her son. Though the outcome is not quite what he wanted, he is glad it's something.

"This was not an accident, it could've been prevented, and my son is dead in the ground while these people walk on it."

The grieving dad said there is not a day that goes by that he does not think about his firstborn.

"Jimmy was my fishing partner and we spent a lot of time together on the water. He was such a loving well-mannered boy and always wanted to be close to me. He used to rub my earlobe as a comfort thing and I'd rub his earlobe-- I miss that," said James.

James told us his ex-wife, Desie, has shown no remorse and he said she has yet to apologize for her role in their son's death.

"She took the one thing from me that can never be replaced and it's my son with my name. She took that from me and I will never forgive."

James said he will never forgive Bishop-- a man he has a message for.

"There are a lot of things I'd want to say to Trevor but it wouldn't be appropriate for camera, but I hope to hell he gets his and he suffers the way my son suffered."

Bishop will be sentenced in July and James plans to be there when it happens to support his son who would have been seven on Friday.