The man serving an 11-year prison sentence for the beating of his former girlfriend's toddler daughter was in court on Thursday asking a judge to reduce his sentence.

Kraig Monroe Jr., 27, asked St. Clair County Chief Circuit Judge John Baricevic to reduce his sentence because the judge didn't have enough time to the consider all the mitigating circumstances before he imposed sentence in September. He also said the sentence was a hardship for his family, including Monroe's 8-year-old daughter.

Richard Roustio, Monroe's attorney, asked the judge to reduce Monroe's sentence to 8 1/2 years.

Baricevic took the matter under advisement.

Monroe pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery to a child charge in April. Baricevic sentenced Monroe to 11 years, but gave him credit for the time he spent in county jail and the 855 days he spent on electronic monitoring after he was released on bond.

Deputies were called on March 1, 2010, to a rented trailer at 110 Princeton Drive near Belleville, where Amanda Runyon's mother Dawn Obptande lived with Monroe. Amanda, who was then 2, suffered tears to her liver in addition to injuries to her bowel.

During the sentencing, Assistant State's Attorney Anna Young showed a videotape of Monroe re-enacting how he struck Amanda in the stomach as she sat in an Elmo chair.

Amanda spent 17 days in the hospital. For two weeks, it wasn't clear whether she would live. Doctors initially stated the she would need a feeding tube for the rest of her life, but that proved not to be true. She also suffered an untreated arm fracture and a broken leg from a past injury. Doctors testified Amanda will be more susceptible to bowel infections for the rest of her life because of the injuries she sustained.

During the sentencing hearing, Monroe's friends took the stand and told the judge that Monroe, a roofer, was a great father who provided a lot of hands-on care to his daughter, including helping her with her homework.

Kraig and Helen Monroe, Monroe's parents, are caring for their granddaughter while Monroe is in prison, Roustio said, but it is a financial burden.

Kraig Monroe Jr. is scheduled for release from the Illinois department of Corrections on July 18, 2019.

Amanda, who is now 6, attends pre-school.

Contact reporter Beth Hundsdorfer at bhundsdorfer@bnd.com or 239-2570.