Christopher Gregor, convicted of aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment after his child died just weeks after he forced him to run on a treadmill, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday.
Gregor, 32, was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child and first-degree murder in the 2021 death of his six-year-old son Corey Micciolo.
The jury found him guilty of endangering the welfare of a child and the lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter on May 31. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan sentenced Gregor to 20 years for aggravated manslaughter and five years for child endangerment. He will be eligible for parole after 85% of his sentence is completed.
He was facing up to 40 years in prison. Ryan explained that the maximum sentence is typically not handed out to those with a “minimal” criminal record.
“It just doesn’t happen, despite the public perception that it should happen,” Ryan said.
Gregor’s trial began on April 30. A video played in court showed the two at a fitness center in Gregor’s New Jersey apartment complex on March 20, 2021.
Corey was running on the treadmill as Gregor kept increasing the speed. The boy fell off the treadmill several times as he struggled to keep up.
Gregor grabbed Corey by the shirt and put him back on the treadmill. He also appeared to bite the child’s head.
Ryan referenced the video as he handed down the sentence.
“[Corey] is being treated by the defendant like he’s a stray dog, following along,” Ryan said. “So while I respect the character letters I received saying what a loving father he is, a picture is worth 1,000 words and a video is worth 10,000 words”
While at a doctor’s appointment on April 1, 2021, Gregor allegedly told the doctor that he had his son run on the treadmill because he was “too fat.”
Gregor, who did not testify during his trial, did speak at the sentencing. He apologized to the child’s mother and her family for his actions in the video.
“What happened on March 20 was inexcusable. To you, Breanna [Micciolo], your family and mine, I want to apologize that you had to see Corey treated that way. He never deserved it,” Gregor said.
Gregor took Corey to the hospital on April 2, 2021, after the child woke up from a nap stumbling, slurring his speech and experiencing nausea and breathing difficulty. He died at the hospital after suffering seizures during a CT scan.
Gregor maintained that he did not cause Corey Micciolo’s death.
“I want to assure you that on April 2 I did nothing to cause Corey’s passing,” Gregor said. “I didn’t hurt my son. I loved him and I still do.”
Gregor became emotional at several points throughout the proceeding, including as he delivered his remarks.
“Corey, wherever you are, I just want to say that I’m proud of you, everything that you did,” Gregor said.
Several family members spoke at the sentencing, including Corey’s mother Breanna Micciolo.
“Today, I don’t believe a word he said and I don’t accept any apology,” she said, accusing him of failing to show any emotion during the trial.
“He never had an ounce of love for Corey,” she said.
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