KPTV - FOX 12Six month sentence for violent dad

Six month sentence for violent dad

A man who used his daughter as a human shield during a confrontation with police will spend six months in jail.

A judge also sentenced Hugh Neustel to three years probation and treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse.

On July 26, Neustel took his 6-year-old daughter to Mount Tabor Park.

Police say he got into an argument with a park volunteer and spit on her.

The volunteer called police after she saw Neustel with a gun.

When officers arrived, police say he grabbed his daughter off the merry-go-round and tried to use her as a human shield.

Neustel eventually let her go and was arrested.

On Feb. 1, a jury found Neustel guilty on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, harassment, disorderly conduct, recklessly endangering and interfering with a peace officer.

During the sentencing, the prosecutor played a conversation between Neustel and his mother about how he should behave in court.

"You make sure you do what dad told you, when you get in front of that judge, you start crying and you tell him that you have changed your life around and you need your daughter in your life," Neusel's mom told him in a recording.

The prosecuting attorney says that Neustel told the mother of his child that he would post naked photos of her on the internet and cut off child support if she testified against him.

Neustel is to have no contact with his daughter until his probation officer and/or mental health experts sign off on it.

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