By Michelle McCaskill, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel

FORT HOOD, Texas – An Army sergeant caught on a Ring camera striking a young child pleaded guilty to domestic violence during his court-martial Oct. 7 at the Lawrence Williams Judicial Center.

Sgt. Paul A. Thames, an automated logistics specialist assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, was sentenced by the military judge to one year in prison and a bad conduct discharge from the Army. The judge gave him 181 days of confinement credit for time served prior to his trial.

On the evening of Jan. 16, 2026, Thames was babysitting his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son at her apartment in Waco, Texas, when he was caught by a neighbor’s Ring doorbell camera punching the boy multiple times, then picking him up by the head and neck.

The neighbor immediately notified the Waco Police Department and officers responded to the scene, taking Thames into custody.

During his interview with a detective with the Waco Police Department, Thames admitted he went overboard while disciplining the child.

When addressing the judge in court, Thames confessed to using excessive force when striking the 3-year-old.

“This case represented holding a Soldier accountable for his domestic violence assault that went far beyond any acceptable level of parental discipline. The prosecution was significant to protect a young child and hold a Soldier accountable for causing harm to someone in the most vulnerable population,” said Capt. Kristyn Dial, prosecutor, Fifth Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.

“The conviction was possible based on the close cooperation between the Waco Police Department, the McLennan County District Attorney, and the Army throughout the entire investigation and prosecution process.”

Thames is currently confined at the Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas, awaiting orders to transfer to a military confinement facility.

This case was investigated by the Waco Police Department, the McLennan County District Attorney and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Central Texas Field Office. It was prosecuted by Dial and Capt. DeJamin M. Bryson, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 1st Cavalry Division.

About the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel: The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel is composed of specially trained military lawyers, legal professionals and support staff responsible for the expert prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and other serious criminal offenses. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., OSTC has eight regional headquarters that oversee 28 field offices located worldwide, including locations in Europe and Korea. For more information visit http://www.army.mil/ostc.

To Report a Crime: If you would like to report a crime, have information about a crime, or have been the subject or survivor of a crime, you can submit anonymous tips to Army CID at http://www.p3tips.com/armycid.