Man admits hitting teen in front of team

The chairman of the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee received a suspended jail sentence Wednesday after he admitted battering his 15-year-old son in front of his high school soccer teammates and coaches.

Paul Dayton Belt, 45, pleaded guilty to battery that constitutes domestic violence for the Oct. 22 incident.

East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl sentenced Belt to 32 days in Douglas County Jail, suspended for one year, and ordered him to attend 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling.

EnEarl fined Belt $332 and lifted a no-contact order with the victim.

Belt's attorney, Justin Clouser, said his client apologized and took full responsibility for the incident.

Deputies were called to Douglas High School at 5:20 p.m. Oct. 22 after witnesses reported a domestic battery in progress. Belt allegedly punched his son several times after he discovered the victim was no longer a member of the boys' junior varsity soccer team.

According to reports, Belt was confrontational with coaches who were explaining why his son had been dropped from the team. He was asked to leave campus.

Witness said they saw Belt punch his son in the head from behind, knee him and kick him in the side. Coaches ran to intervene when Belt reportedly threw the victim on the hood of a car.

Belt left the scene and reportedly turned himself in at the sheriff's office.

According to reports, he told deputies he became angry with the victim because the teenager had been kicked off the soccer team and lied about it.

"I began to yell at my son and lost my cool and punched him with a closed fist about five or six times in his chest, shoulders and back," Belt told deputies, according to reports.

EnEarl set a review for Feb. 8.