Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for child abuse involving Taser

A 45-year-old man was sentenced Friday, July 24, to more than 45 years in prison, after a jury found him guilty of nine counts of second-degree assault and 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment — along with more than three dozen additional charges — in connection with child abuse.

Brandon Bret Rogers will be required to serve 40 years and 10 months and is not eligible for any reduction, based on his convictions for serious crimes known in Oregon as Measure 11 offenses that carry mandatory minimum sentences.

His total sentence, including other charges that are not Measure 11 crimes, is 45 years and 10 months.

Springfield police in 2024 investigated a report of a 7-year-old boy who had been shocked with a Taser on multiple occasions as a form of discipline.

Court records later showed that investigators also found some crimes committed against another child, though the large majority of charges related to treatment of the boy. In Friday’s sentencing hearing, the other child was described as a girl who was 5 when victimized.

Police arrested Rogers, as well as Heather Lynn Black — the children’s parents — on suspicion of mistreatment and assault, among other charges.

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Lane County Circuit Judge Charles Zennaché noted a jury finding that the abuse took place with “deliberate cruelty,” adding the abuse came from “somebody they should have found solace and strength from.”

Zennaché called the actions of Rogers “frankly torture.”

An example of the abuse described by Zennaché  involved the 7-year-old boy being told to remain in a “push-up” position while adult family members ate dinner, with the judge referring to video evidence.

“When [he] starts to drop, Dad Tases him and yells at him,” Zennaché said. “No adult did anything about it at any time, and it was shocking to me.”

Black was sentenced June 2025 to 15 years in prison after negotiating with prosecutors a plea deal. She pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, five counts of second-degree assault and one count of unlawful use of a weapon, with other charges dismissed.

A Lane County jury July 1 convicted Rogers of 59 total criminal counts.

Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Geil recommended a sentence of more than 138 years in prison.

Friday, Geil said the recommendation amounted to “asking for the maximum” possible sentence for 17 separate criminal episodes.

Zennaché questioned Geil about the law as it applies to sentencing, telling the prosecutor, “I understand what you’re trying to achieve. I just don’t know I can achieve it.”

Rebecca Anstine, a court-appointed attorney for Rogers, told Zennaché that Geil’s recommendation “actually shocked the moral conscience of what’s proportional.” 

Rogers “had a very, very violent violent childhood,” Anstine said. He “incurred daily beatings from his father” that resulted hospitalization, she said.

Anstine said she advised Rogers not to address the court “for appellate purposes.” After the hearing, Anstine said she expected to begin the process of filing an appeal.

Appearing remotely and speaking by phone were the couple that have taken in the two abused children. Geil said they are now the adoptive parents of the children.

They described ongoing behavioral concerns for both children.

“They’ve been terrorized and, now years later, they’re still terrified [and] terrified to tell the truth when they make mistakes,” one of the parents said. A year ago, they said, a child dropping an item would result in them pleading “no” and “curling up in a ball to protect themselves.”

Another parent said Rogers’ trial has caused the children to regress, having to relive the abuse.

“That sweet baby boy was tortured and ganged up on by both you and Heather,” one of the adoptive parents said, adding: “You treated a boy who thought of you as a dad like an animal, a subhuman, worse than a prisoner in a jail.”