San Diego

The former operator of a Mira Mesa day care center was sentenced to four years in state prison for abusing a 17-month-old boy by giving him a cold-water enema.

Henri Jo Dyson, 44, of San Diego was also fined $5,000 by San Diego Superior Court Judge Anthony Joseph on Monday before a packed courtroom that included members of her Linda Vista church.

Dyson was convicted July 8 after a two-month trial on a single count of inflicting a corporal injury on the boy in January, 1989. The child, who received about two liters of cold water, had to be hospitalized after suffering seizures.

The judge noted that Dyson called an ambulance when the infant became ill. The boy was close to death after being admitted to a hospital.

Dyson, who had been free on her own recognizance, was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing.

The jury was unable to resolve other child-abuse charges against the defendant and her son, Harold Dyson, during its eight days of deliberations.

Attorneys met with the judge at 6 p.m. after the lengthy sentencing Monday to discuss the remaining counts and afterward said a retrial is possible. The mother and son were ordered to return to court Sept. 6.

Henri Dyson’s licensed day care center, which opened in 1982, is no longer in business. The judge said 65 children had been cared for by the Dysons.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sally Penso said Dyson lied to hospital officials and later in court about how the infant became ill.

“She gave the child treatment as soon as she realized the child had a problem,” replied William Stearns, her attorney, adding that Dyson called 911 herself.

The same jury acquitted Dyson of two molestation counts and three counts of administering corporal injuries to a child. Harold Dyson was also acquitted of two child abuse charges.