Granada Hills Man Sentenced in Killing

A Granada Hills man convicted of beating to death a 17-month-old boy was sentenced Friday in Van Nuys Superior Court to 15 years to life in prison.

Anthony John Clifford, 30, was sentenced by Judge Jerold Krieger for second-degree murder in the death of Brian Gannon on March 14, 1989. Clifford pleaded guilty to the charge Nov. 28 of last year.

Clifford lived with the boy and his mother, Julie Gannon, and was caring for him alone when the child was fatally assaulted in his crib. Clifford later told authorities he had been drinking and struck the boy because he was upset over an argument he had had with Julie Gannon.

Clifford originally was charged with sodomizing the child, but an autopsy found no evidence to support the charge, according to court records. The suspect also denied the sexual abuse charge.

In court Friday, Clifford said he was sorry “for all that happened . . . I am going to try to make the rest of my life better for society and myself.”