Augusta Dad Ordered To Take Parenting Classes After Near-Drowning Incident Involving Toddler

The father of a two-year-old Augusta boy has been ordered to take parenting classes after his son nearly drowned in the Kennebec River.

Christopher Norwood, 32, was given a deferred sentence this week after accepting a plea deal.

Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said the case against Norwood will be dropped if he stays out of trouble and takes parenting classes, according to WGME.

Norwood's son was rescued from the river Sept. 16 by a bystander near the East Side Boat Landing in Augusta.

The child was unresponsive when he was pulled to shore, but the bystander successfully performed CPR on the boy.

Police did not immediately say where the child's father was at the time of the incident.

Augusta police said Sept. 26 that the child was still recovering but had been released from the hospital. The following day, Deputy Police Chief Jared Mills announced that Norwood had been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.