# Army Sergeant Sentenced for Punching Girlfriend's Toddler

> Texas Army sergeant Paul Thames admitted beating girlfriend's 3-year-old son on Ring cam and gets 1-year prison sentence.
- Title: Army Sergeant Sentenced for Punching Girlfriend's Toddler
- Summary: Texas Army sergeant Paul Thames admitted beating girlfriend's 3-year-old son on Ring cam and gets 1-year prison sentence. Paul Thames, a 29-year-old Army…
- Keywords: army, sergeant, paul thames, texas, ring cam, domestic violence, sentenced, toddler, child abuse, u.s. army, crime, news
- Source: Law & Crime — https://lawandcrime.com/crime/army-sergeant-who-was-caught-repeatedly-punching-girlfriends-toddler-on-ring-cam-and-admitted-he-went-overboard-is-sentenced
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: army, sergeant, paul thames, texas, ring cam, domestic violence, sentenced, toddler, child abuse, u.s. army, crime, news
## Sgt. Paul Thames sentenced
Military Judge Jeremy D. Broussard sentenced 29-year-old Army Sgt. Paul A. Thames to one year in prison and a bad-conduct discharge from the U.S. Army for domestic violence.
## Thames admitted 'went overboard'
Thames pleaded guilty to domestic violence during his court-martial and admitted he 'went overboard' while disciplining the child.
## Ring camera footage
A neighbor's Ring doorbell camera recorded Thames punching his girlfriend's 3-year-old son at least five times with a closed fist and lifting the child by the neck.
## Incident date
The attack occurred on Jan. 16, 2026, when Thames was babysitting his girlfriend's son at her apartment in Waco, Texas.
## Thames' military role
Thames is an automated logistics specialist assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
## Pending child injury charge
Thames faces a separate pending felony charge of injury to a child in Texas, which could lead to up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
## Waco Police response
Waco police responded to the incident after a neighbor notified them, leading to Thames being taken into custody.
## Prosecution statement
Prosecutor Capt. Kristyn Dial stated the case was about holding a Soldier accountable for domestic violence that went far beyond acceptable parental discipline.
## Thames' current status
Thames is being held at the Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas, while awaiting transfer to a military confinement facility.
## Credit for time served
Thames received credit for 181 days of confinement served before trial.
## Court-martial date
Thames' court-martial took place on Oct. 7, 2026, at the Lawrence Williams Judicial Center.
## Military discharge
Thames was discharged from the U.S. Army with a bad-conduct discharge after his sentence.
## Child abuse details
The Ring footage showed Thames hitting the child at least five times in the torso with a closed fist and lifting him by the head and neck.
## Thames' admission
During an interview with a Waco police detective, Thames admitted he 'went overboard' while disciplining the child.
## Child's age
The child was 3 years old at the time of the incident.
## Location
The incident occurred at The Legend Apartments in Waco, Texas.
## Key takeaway

Paul Thames, a 29-year-old Army sergeant, was sentenced to one year in prison and a bad-conduct discharge for punching his girlfriend's toddler on a Ring camera.