Dad sentenced to 5-12 year in prison for shaking 6-week-old son (Schuykill County, Pennsylvania)

Dad KYLE BLUGE was sentenced to 5-12 years for assault of his 6-week-old son. The dad--relatives say he has a "temper"--apparently "lost control" and shook the baby. The baby suffered from brain and retinal damage, common effects of infant shaking. Local child abuse officials blame the economy. Well partly. Too many dads who should be working are dealing with babies and toddlers, and they're just not ready for it.

http://www.wnep.com/wnep-schyl-bluge-sentenced-baby-assault,0,2625286.story

Father Sentenced for Assaulting Baby
By Bob Reynolds
August 5, 2009

A man from Schuylkill County was sentenced Wednesday for assaulting his six-week-old son last year.

A judge decided Kyle Bluge, 24, will spend about five years to nearly 12 years in state prison.

Bluge admits he lost control when his son, Justin, was screaming and he shook him.

"His brain swelled. It swelled to the point the soft spot on the back of his head reopened. It swelled to a point that the soft spot on the front of his head didn't reopen but it swelled. Also Justin Bluge suffered retinal tears," said Schuylkill County Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina.

He prosecuted the case and added Bluge betrayed his son.

"To think that a parent is capable of doing this and inflicting such injury, it's just appalling," Serina said.

Some family members were at Wednesday's sentencing.

"I was happy. I was happy because he came off in court and to his attorney and the judge that this was a one-time thing, that it's never happened before. Maybe not with a baby but he has a temper. We've all seen it," said relative Abigail Baker.

"He wants everybody to feel sorry for him because he screwed up. That's not my problem," said relative Brittany Matthews.

Officials with Children and Youth Services said they have seen an increase in shaken baby injuries and partially blame the economy.

"Some people are frustrated or are on the edge, unemployment is higher, people have lost their jobs. They're not used to being unemployed. They're not sure where their money is going to come from. Compound that with a child screaming, I think that leads to it," said Lisa Stevens of Schuylkill County Children and Youth.

Officials said if you feel that you're on the edge go to the blue pages of the phone book to find resources to help.