Dad found guilty of manslaughter in death of 6-month-old son; dad registered sex offender (Salem, Oregon)

Dad ROBERT D. MORRIS has been found guilty of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment in the death of his 6-month-old son. Daddy was a registered sex offender, and was not supposed to spend any time alone with the baby. But somehow, nobody really followed through on that agreement--not the mother, the grandmother, DHS....

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100910/NEWS/9100323/1001

Salem father sentenced to 17 years in infant son's death
Judge criticizes several state agencies for 'failing to protect' six-month-old
By Thelma Guerrero-Huston • Statesman Journal • September 10, 2010

A northeast Salem man found guilty of manslaughter and criminal mistreatment of his infant son will serve 171/2 years in prison for the crime.

Robert D. Morris, 25, was sentenced Thursday by Marion County Circuit Judge Albin Norblad.

Morris had been in Marion County jail since his arrest Oct. 28, 2008, for charges in connection with abusing his 6-month-old son, Gabriel, who died Oct. 31, 2008, at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

The infant's mother and maternal grandmother did not attend the hearing but his maternal grandfather, Keith Jones, addressed the court.

"Our lives have not been the same (since Gabriel died)," a weeping Jones told the judge. "I called him my 'little buddy.' We miss him and think about him every day. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone."

Before he sentenced Morris, the judge criticized a number of individuals, agencies and law enforcement officials for what he said was "failing to protect" the infant.

"The bottom line is that members of the family, the probation department, those at Willamette Health Center, Salem Hospital's emergency ward, all failed this child," Norblad said. "But for the lack of activity by the various people, this child would be alive today."

He went on to criticize officials for not contacting the (Oregon Department of Human Services) about previous injuries the child had sustained.

"The only contact (DHS) had was from OHSU when the baby was in the process of dying and after he left Salem," Norblad said.

He also criticized the child's mother and maternal grandmother for not following through with an agreement they had entered into that prohibited Robert Morris from being alone with Gabriel. Morris is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of third-degree rape in 2007 and sentenced to five years' probation.

The judge ended by saying that such disregard by various people was a violation of state laws but that "Nobody can be held accountable for this because the statute (of limitations) has run."

He recommend the Marion County District Attorney's Office contact DHS because Gabriel's mother "is pregnant again … so maybe we can protect this child."

Robert Morris apologized to the court.

"I'm sorry for the acts I committed … I loved my son … I never intended to injure him … I'm heartbroken, filled with pain, guilt and regret."

Read more: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100910/NEWS/9100323/1001#ixzz0z948zNbl