Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Throwing Oakdale 6-Year-Old On Frozen Deck

A Washington County judge has found sufficient evidence in the case against South St. Paul's Benjamin Lee Reno to set a trial date.

The 32-year-old Reno was charged with gross misdemeanor malicious punishment of a child after a Thanksgiving Day incident in which he allegedly picked up his 6-year-old stepson by the neck and slammed him on a frozen deck.

According to a Washington County District Court Complaint, Reno misunderstood the boy to be bullying his younger brother and allegedly wanted "to show him what a bully was."

The complaint states Reno told police in a post-arrest interview he picked up the child by his shoulders and when the boy wouldn't listen he simply released him—rather than threw him—allowing him to drop onto the deck.    

Reno is scheduled to appear at an omnibus hearing on Feb. 29, a pre-trial hearing on April 2, and—if necessary—a jury trial on May 7.  

If convicted, Reno faces up to 12 months in prison and a $3,000 fine.