Greensburg father pleads guilty for violent incident with autistic son

A Greensburg father pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with an incident last summer in which, authorities said, he had a physical altercation with his autistic son for the second time since 2017.

Finley Michael Steward, 66, was ordered to serve seven years on probation, which includes an 18-month term on house arrest, after he pleaded guilty to a new charge of false imprisonment in connection to a confrontation he had with the now-15-year-old boy in June 2023.

“I love my children,” Steward said. “I am a single parent, and it is difficult sometimes, but it doesn’t excuse it, the incident that happened. You have to be careful when you discipline a child.”

Steward was initially accused of strangulation, unlawful restraint, child endangerment and simple assault. Police said he grabbed his then-14-year-old son around the neck and attempted to throw him down stairs. Prosecutors dismissed the original charges and, on Wednesday, added the felony count of false imprisonment to facilitate the plea deal.

Prosecutors said Steward has prior convictions that date to 1976, including one for simple assault of the same child in connection with an incident six years earlier.

“There should be justice because this is the second time where he has assaulted his son,” Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli said.

Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani said he imposed a mitigated sentence after hearing testimony from the teen, who, along with a younger sister, is being cared for by Steward’s sister.

Steward also was ordered to complete anger management classes and to have no unsupervised contact with his children.

“I don’t think you’re a bad person. I think that you had your hands full and couldn’t handle it,” Feliciani said.