FRANKLIN — The father of a young boy who police found locked alone in his room last year was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to numerous criminal charges.

Johnathon Lee Jenkins, 32, of Franklin, received the sentence from Simpson Circuit Judge Mark Thurmond on 179 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, 90 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, a count of second-degree criminal abuse, two counts of fourth-degree assault, a count of second-degree strangulation and knowingly obstructing an investigation/report of child abuse/neglect.

“I just can’t get past the nature of the offenses,” Thurmond said after hearing an argument from Jenkins’ attorney, Zanda Myers, requesting that Jenkins be put on probation. “I can’t see my way toward granting you probation.”

Thurmond noted at Monday’s hearing that the plea agreement Jenkins reached with prosecutors was the result of extensive negotiations guided by a mediator.

Nearly all the charges against Jenkins resulted from an investigation that was launched last year by the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office after deputies were informed that a then-4-year-old boy was found in their Springfield Road home alone in a room that had been padlocked.

According to prior court testimony, a delivery driver who arrived outside the house saw the child crying and beating on the window on Oct. 12, 2023.

SCSO deputies forced their way into the home and found a padlocked door, leading into a room where the child was found wearing only a pull-up.

Police reported that fecal matter and urine stained two walls of the room, the child was covered in feces and did not have access to food or drink.

The 4-year-old was eventually removed from the home, along with his siblings, and placed in foster care.

Jenkins and the child’s mother, Morgan Soper, were charged with hundreds of offenses after police investigated allegations that the pair left the child by himself while they went to Tennessee for their jobs, a practice that had reportedly gone on for several months.

According to testimony last year from SCSO Deputy Debbie Steele, Jenkins and Soper both told authorities that the child had been kicked out of a day care facility, and Jenkins said he researched the issue online before keeping the child locked in the room.

In court Monday, Myers said that Jenkins found himself in a dire economic situation that led to the case against him.

“He’s admitted to what he’s done wrong and accepts responsibility,” Myers said. “He was in extreme financial distress at the time that led to some poor choices. He loves his children very much…this isn’t someone who is going to go out and commit new offenses.

Simpson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Corey Morgan urged the judge to impose the 10-year sentence, arguing that it would deter others.

“These are very serious offenses that frankly scream out for accountability,” Morgan said.

Soper, who has pleaded guilty to a spate of criminal charges, is set to be sentenced next month, having accepted an agreement recommending a 20-year sentence.