Dad charged in shaking death of 5-month-old son (Battle Creek, Michigan)

Dad SHAWN BROWN is currently charged with 1st-degree child abuse in the shaking death of his 5-month-old son. But it is anticipated that the charge will be upgraded to open murder once the medical records are complete.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100403/NEWS01/4030309/1002/NEWS01

Charges dismissed, reinstated in child abuse case
Trace Christenson • The Enquirer • April 3, 2010

Charges of child abuse against a Battle Creek man were dismissed Friday, but not for long.

Shawn Brown, 25, was being held on a charge of first-degree child abuse in the alleged Jan. 22 shaking of his 5-month-old son, Shawn Brown Jr. The child died two days later at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek police have alleged the little boy was injured and died because he was shaken by his father.

Brown was scheduled for a preliminary examination before Calhoun County District Judge John Hallacy on Friday but prosecutors said they still were awaiting a medical report on the child's death.

However, after two previous adjournments on Feb. 8 and March 16 for the same reason, defense attorney James Goulooze of Hastings said he would not agree to further delays and asked Hallacy to dismiss the charges.

"I think Shawn has been more than cooperative," Goulooze said, noting that he agreed to the previous delays. "He wants to resolve this too. But apparently it is very difficult for them to show what is going on or what occurred and that is in my client's favor."

But Assistant Prosecutor Tamara Towns said she was not ready to proceed only because the medical reports on the cause of death were not complete and that the delay was because a specialist has been asked to consult in the case.

Hallacy said "at some case the case has to proceed and while the nature of these often is that the case can take some time he has a right to his preliminary examination."

Hallacy then said he was dismissing the charges.

However, Towns said after the short hearing that she anticipated the judge's ruling and already issued a warrant for Brown's arrest. He was taken into custody before being released from jail and will be arraigned Monday on identical child abuse charges.

Investigators said they expect he will be charged with open murder once the medical reports are complete.

Trace Christenson can be reached at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecr.gannett.com.