Oregon father sentenced to probation for using shock collar on children

Oregon dad gets probation in shock collar case

SALEM, Ore. — A northwestern Oregon man who used a shock collar for dogs on his young children has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation.

Court documents say Todd Marcum of Salem is prohibited from having contact with children without approval of the state Department of Human Services and his parole officer. He also is barred from using corporal punishment and participating in physical play with children.

Investigators say Marcum used the electronic collar to shock his four children — ages 3 to 9 — last spring because he thought it was funny. He was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to four counts of criminal mistreatment.

The children have been in the custody of their mother.

Marcum tells KPTV he has started counseling. And he says, “Nothing like this will ever happen again.”