Judge Gregory Hammond on Friday upheld a sentence he handed down to a Bradford man convicted of smoking methamphetamine in front of — and poisoning as a result — his 5-year-old child.

Hammond last month sentenced Tyler J. Steele, 29, in the aggravated range to just over 10 months incarceration in the county system because of the age of the victim, the relationship and the conduct that, he said, went beyond “reckless.”

Steele’s attorney, Chief Public Defender Mike Kitay who filed the motion to reconsider, said his client is sorry and called it a “stupid decision” on the part of his client.

Kitay said his client was scared to call police and asked a neighbor to do it, arguing that showed initiative to call in a timely fashion. He added that Steele wants to be there for his child, is trying to make better decisions and is afraid he might lose his job if in jail for as long as sentenced.

He also cited Steele’s “limited prior record.”

The exposure necessitated emergency medical attention for the child.

At sentencing, Hammond referenced a letter from the mother that 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. He further 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.”

“We’re talking about a 5-year-old child,” Hammond said on Friday after Kitay’s argument, calling Steele’s conduct “outrageous.”

He said Steele could have faced a felony charge which “would have had a much greater impact on him.

“(You) don’t need a prior record when you poison a 5-year-old,” he said in denying the motion.