Dad charged with breaking leg of 1-month-old daughter; was "allegedly" being "rough" while on heroin (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Dads like DAVID ALLMAN JR who break the legs of infants while changing diapers are surprisingly common, especially lately. Check out the Diapers/potty-training for similar cases. The heroin thing is certainly not a good idea, but it didn't force this father to be abusive. There are lots of abusive dads (scroll through this blog), but only a tiny number have been identified as heroin addicts.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/police/all-a7_4baby.7200941mar10,0,3689604.story

Man charged with breaking infant's leg
David Allman Jr. of Bethlehem allegedly was rough with baby daughter while on heroin.

By Manuel Gamiz Jr.
OF THE MORNING CALL

March 10, 2010

A Bethlehem man was charged Tuesday with fracturing his 1-month-old daughter's leg in October.

David Allman Jr., 21, of 1315 Livingston St. was arraigned by District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro of Bethlehem on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to a criminal complaint:

The baby was taken Oct. 5 by the baby's mother to the emergency room of St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill with a fractured right femur.

Police interviewed Allman on Nov. 26 and he admitted using heroin for a year and being addicted to the drug for six months.

He said he did not do anything intentionally to injure his daughter and thinks the injury may have been caused when either he or the baby's mother incorrectly placed the child in a car seat. On Dec. 6, in a follow-up interview, he told an investigator the injury may have been caused while he was changing his daughter's diaper.

Dr. Danielle Boal of Penn State Medical Center reviewed the baby's medical records and determined on Oct. 30 that the injury was indicative of a shaking or abusive injury, and her opinion was that it was caused by abuse. Boal also said on Nov. 25 that it was difficult for her to believe that incorrect use of a car seat harness would have caused the injury and determined that it was a non-accidental injury.

The criminal complaint continues:

On Dec. 7, Allman left a voice mail message with a Northampton County Children and Youth Services investigator, saying he was under the influence of heroin while caring for his daughter and knows he caused the injury. Bethlehem police saved the message.

Two days later, Allman provided a written statement to another county investigator, saying he was rough with the baby and upset because of the stress of having a child and his drug problems. The statement was also provided to the Bethlehem police.

Allman's father, David Allman Sr., who attended Tuesday's arraignment, said he does not believe his son caused the injury -- and if he did, it was not intentional -- and felt the charges were too severe. ''I don't think he's capable of doing this,'' he said.