Dad with criminal record arrested for scalding infant; was first time Dad had met or cared for the baby (Immokalee, Florida)

All you single mamas out there, I know you get tired. But we need to move beyond thinking that your boyfriend, the sperm donor for your child, is necessarily a good father in a caretaking/babysitting sense. And if he's been been abusive to you before or has a criminal record, that should be one big fat red flag for you. Don't go there, girl. Seek out your own mom, or your sisters, or your girlfriends for help and support. Not some thug. I know that we're increasingly lectured at that daddies are "critical" for your child, and must be "involved"--regardless of their personal history or character. But this is just an fathers rights ideology with no relationship to real people. Please educate yourselves. Your child will benefit from consistent, loving care. Not from contact with criminals who are incapable of loving or caring for a child.

Dad YOUFMAN ROBINSON was in jail when this mother gave birth to their son. In fact, up until the time the mom asked this dad to take care of the child for a week, Daddy had never bothered to even see the infant. That should tell you something about Daddy's character and how "bonded" he was going to be to this child.

So are we really surprised that Daddy severely burned this child's face while the child was in Dad's "care"? Or that Daddy threatened the mother over getting medical attention for the child? So Mom was treating the injuries herself until she was able to leave Dad's apartment. So he was holding her prisoner? Wonder why the authorities don't prosecute for that? But then Florida has a well-deserved reputation for being light on batterers and abusers.

http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=13456634

Scalded child leads to Collier man's arrest
Posted: Nov 06, 2010 11:43 AM CDT
Updated: Nov 6, 2010 12:43 PM EDT

IMMOKALEE: A Collier County man was arrested after deputies say he severely burned a child with scalding water.

Youfman Robinson of Immokalee was charged with one count of aggravated child abuse.

The victim's mother, who was not identified in a Collier County Sheriff's Office report, told deputies that the 29-year-old father Robinson agreed to take care of the boy at Robinson's apartment for a week in October, according to a Naples Daily News report.

The woman said Robinson had not previously met the child because the boy was born while Robinson was in jail.

According to reports, when the boy's mother checked up on him on Oct. 29, she noticed severe burns on his face.

The injuries occurred while the child was in Robinson's care, according to a Collier County Sheriff's Office report.

The woman told deputies she was afraid to get the child medical attention because Robinson threatened her.

She said she treated the burns herself until Nov. 2, when she was able to leave Robinson's apartment.

On Nov. 3, the woman took the child to Lee Memorial Hospital after realizing the injuries were getting worse and she could no longer tend to them.

The child was then taken to Tampa Children's Hospital for treatment.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office issued and executed a search warrant on Robinson's apartment Wednesday.

A day later he was taken into custody at a traffic stop in Immokalee.

During an interview he told deputies that he could not explain how the burns occurred.

He was arrested and taken to the Immokalee Jail Center for booking.