San Diego

The second operator of a Mira Mesa child-care center was given a suspended 180-day jail sentence Thursday and fined $200 for his single child-abuse conviction.

Harold Dyson, 26, was placed on three years’ probation by San Diego Superior Court Judge Anthony Joseph, who warned him that, if he violated conditions of probation, he would have to serve the jail sentence.

Dyson’s mother, Henri Dyson, 43, is serving a four-year state prison term, following a two-month trial in which she was convicted of a single child-abuse count on July 8.

Henri and Harold Dyson were acquitted of several other child-abuse charges, but the jury deadlocked on some of the remaining counts. Harold Dyson pleaded guilty to one count to avoid a retrial, and the other charges were later dismissed against his mother.

Harold Dyson’s attorney, Gary Edwards, argued Thursday that his client “wouldn’t be here but for his mother.”

Judge Joseph agreed: “My belief, as I sat through the trial, is that Harold was very much dominated by his mother. No way do I wish to excuse the violations.”

Joseph also barred Dyson from taking a job involving care of children.