A Wayne man will spend up to 23 months in county jail after pleading guilty to assaulting a 12-year-old boy he forced to run basketball drills for three hours in 90-degree heat on a court in neighboring Narberth last summer.

Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein sentenced Edward Marquell Greene, 39, of the 300 block of Trilium Lane in Wayne, to 6 to 23 months in jail Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault, according to Main Line Media News. Rothstein also ordered two years of probation consecutive to parole, putting Greene under court supervision for approximately four years total.

Greene must begin domestic violence and parenting counseling programs within 30 days of being paroled.

The incident occurred July 31, 2025, on basketball courts in the unit block of Haverford Avenue in Narberth. Assistant District Attorney Anne Caitlyn O'Connell told the court that Greene admitted forcing the child in his care to run drills with no break until the boy began to lose consciousness.

"This child could have been seriously injured as a result of the defendant's actions and his potential failure to act. It was an incredibly hot day. He absolutely should have known better than to run this kid to the ground, essentially for three hours, with no break," O'Connell said.

When the boy tried to stop and flee, Greene chased him down, punched him and dragged him back to his car, according to O'Connell's account of Greene's admission.

The boy sought help. A Narberth Public Works Department employee told police the child ran into the borough garage asking for assistance, with Greene following behind. Greene allegedly told the employee to get out of the way "or I will knock you out," then grabbed the child and punched him in the face, head and chest "like he was a grown man," according to the criminal complaint filed by Narberth Police Officer Michael S. Vernacchio.

Witnesses called Narberth police about a disturbance at a station wagon in the parking lot. Arriving officers found Greene trying to give the unconscious but breathing boy a drink in the backseat. Officers administered oxygen until Narberth ambulance officials arrived. The child was transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital for possible heat stroke.

Greene told police he and the boy arrived at the courts around 7:30 a.m. to practice basketball and that he had the child run drills for about two hours. He denied punching the boy and claimed he only grabbed his arm while trying to discipline him.

Greene, represented by defense lawyer Thomas C. Egan III, apologized before the sentence was imposed.

As part of the plea agreement, charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person were dismissed.