Custodial dad charged with aggravated assault of 4-year-old son; injuries "life threatening" (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

Once again, we have a custodial dad, MICHAEL JOSEPH LOVE, who was the "primary caretaker" of his 4-year-old son. Since Daddy gained custody back in September, this child has apparently acquired numerous injuries ("evidence of an older liver laceration") as well as the life-threatening injuries he faces now which include burns, fractures, and a brain injury.

The detail here is very vague here as to how and why this father obtained custody. Mom voluntarily "turned the boy" over to Daddy? Or was she coerced by what certainly appears to be a violent man? Was this act court-ordered? If so, the judge responsible has managed to keep his or her name out of the paper (and thus remain unaccountable to the public). Amazing how these articles very rarely explain the circumstances that allow these violent criminal fathers to gain custody and thus injure, maim, or murder their own kids.

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_16983667

Father faces child abuse charges in Adams County
By VICKY TAYLOR Staff writer

Child abuse charges against a Gettysburg father were sent into Adams County Court following a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Michael Joseph Love, 22, is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with physical abuse of his four-year-old son.

He was arrested by Gettysburg police Dec. 4 after the boy was taken to Gettysburg Hospital and then transferred to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with multiple injuries.

Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner said those injuries included a subdural hematoma, multiple bruises and abrasions, burns on his skin, fractured vertebrae, a broken finger, corneal abrasions and evidence of an older liver laceration.

"Doctors at Penn State Hershey Medical Center determined that those injuries were non-accidental trauma consistent with child abuse," Wagner said.

He said the injuries were life threatening and surgery was immediately performed on the child to control bleeding on the brain.

The child was released from the hospital on Wednesday, the same day his father appeared in court for his preliminary hearing.

According to Wagner, the boy's mother turned the boy over to Love in September and Love had been the primary caretaker of the child until his arrest the day the child was taken to the hospital.

Wagner said the investigation is continuing. He said he expects more arrests to be made in the case.

Wagner praised Adams County Children and Youth Services and the Gettysburg Police Department for what he called "their excellent joint investigation into this alleged crime."
Love remains in Adams County Prison while awaiting his formal arraignment on the charges on Feb. 17.

His bail, originally set at $100,000 at the time of his arrest, was lowered to $50,000 during his preliminary hearing Wednesday.