Dad punches 2-month-old son in the face for crying; prognosis "grim" (Antioch, California)

When I tell you that these cases happen daily, I am not exaggerating. Once again, we have a young father (23) with an obviously low frustration level who got ticked off when the baby was crying. Once again, we have have a "caretaking" dad SIGIFREDO LUA because (once again) we have a mother of a 2-MONTH-OLD BABY WHO IS FORCED TO WORK while (unemployed?) Daddy is off punching a newborn in the face. When are we going to stop this social madness and let moms nurture their own babies?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F17%2FBA7C1HP815.DTL

Antioch baby near death after alleged abuse by dad
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco Chronicle February 17, 2011 09:20 AM Thursday, February 17, 2011

(02-17) 09:20 PST ANTIOCH --

A 2-month-old Antioch boy is fighting for his life today after his father allegedly admitted punching him in the face to make him stop crying, police said.

The baby is in a coma with numerous broken bones and other injuries and "his prognosis is grim," said Antioch police Sgt. Diane Aguinaga. The father is under arrest.

The investigation began shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday when doctors at Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch called police to report that they were treating a baby they believed had been abused, Aguinaga said. The boy, who had been taken to the hospital by ambulance, was soon transferred to Children's Hospital Oakland.

He is being treated for numerous broken bones, a lacerated liver and bleeding on his brain, Aguinaga said. The boy's name has not been released.

Police determined that the baby's father, Sigifredo Lua, 23, had been taking care of his son and another child at his home on the 700 block of O Street while his wife was at work, Aguinaga said.

Lua called his wife and said the baby was hurt, and she called 911, Aguinaga said.

"Lua's initial statements on how the child was injured were inconsistent with the injuries sustained," Aguinaga said.

Lua later told police that he had punched his son in the face because the boy wouldn't stop crying, authorities said.

Lua is being held at Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on suspicion of felony child abuse causing great bodily injury. His bail was set at more than $1 million.

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.