A Clarendon man was sentenced outside the sentence guidelines for smoking methamphetamine in front of his 5-year-old son.

The exposure necessitated emergency medical attention for the child for the incident that occurred last July.

The sentence was handed down to Tyler J. Steele, 29, on Friday by Judge Gregory Hammond.

Hammond, referencing a letter from the mother, said the child felt like his head was going to pop off and that his arms and legs were tingling. She further told the court that he has had ongoing behavioral problems as a result.

Hammond said the mother told the court he’s “a completely different child.”

He criticized Steele for leaving the mother and her husband “holding the bag” and said he believes the child’s mother is also a victim.

Hammond equated methamphetamine use to a “slow suicide” that the court can’t necessarily stop in adults. “We sure as heck,” he added, “can protect your son.”

He explained he could have had a “modicum of respect” for Steele if he had called the mother to take the child before he went to smoke meth.

Hammond sentenced Steele outside the guidelines because of the age of the victim, the relationship — noting that the child had a right to be safe in his father’s care and the effects on the victim. He said exposing his son to meth goes beyond “reckless.”

The sentence includes nine to 18 months incarceration with credit for one day time served, $375 in fines and fees, 30 hours of community service, parenting classes and no contact with the child unless approved by custody court or with the mother unless she requests it on a count of recklessly endangering another person. He was sentenced to one to two months incarceration, work release and early reentry eligibility and 30 hours of community service on a second count of recklessly endangering another person tied to driving while high on meth with his child in the car.

In addition, he ordered Steele to pay $522.60 in counseling expenses that have been incurred for the child in the wake of the incident and said he’d impose additional restitution if needed.

At a second docket, Steele was sentenced to six months restrictive probation including 72 hours incarceration, $1,175 in fines and fees, a 12 month license suspension, 15 hours of community service a 12 month license suspension and participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs on a count of DUI and $70 each on charges of careless driving, no headlights and operating a vehicle without a valid inspection.