Caretaking dad arrested in abuse of 7-week-old son (York, Nebraska)

Yet another "caretaking" father who seriously injured a newborn. This time the daddy was DUSTIN DUBAS, and yes, Mom was working and keeping a roof over everybody's heads while this freak was basically abusing this baby from birth (note evidence of healing rib fracture in addition to more recent head injury). Notice that this lazy, good-for-nothing father didn't even put the baby's vomit-stained sheets in the washer. And that it was Mom who took the baby to the doctor. Typical. Basically, the whole "caretaking" daddy scam has meant that moms have to do two jobs: One is the work they do for pay, and the other is supervising a goon who's too "manly" to do an even half-assed decent job at childcare or housework.

http://www.yorknewstimes.com/articles/2011/03/10/news/doc4d79225410689098090387.txt

Arrest made in child abuse case

Father accused of injuring 7-week-old infant
By News-Times staff
Published: Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:11 PM CST

YORK — Dustin Dubas, 23, of York has been arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in serious injury.

He’s accused of abusing his 7-week-old son in late January.

According to the arrest affidavit filed in York County Court, an officer with the York Police Department was contacted by a social worker from Children’s Hospital in Omaha. The worker said that an infant was transported to their facility by York Fire and Rescue from York General Hospital by a doctor’s order, after the child was brought there by his mother in the early morning hours of Jan. 31, as he was having seizures.

The baby was examined in Omaha and referred to a Dr. Haney who was the medical director and member of the Project Harmony Child Advocacy Team at Children’s Hospital. After examining the infant, “the team concluded that his condition was caused by something other than seizures and that the seizures in fact were a result of non-accidental head trauma.

“Upon examining the child, Dr. Haney reported that the child was found to have bilateral subacute subdural hematomas, as well as areas of hypoxic ischemic injury to his brain. In addition, he was found to have bilateral retinal hemorrhages and a possible healing rib fracture. She estimated the injuries sustained by the child to be subacute (approximately 1-3 weeks old). Haney concluded that this constellation of findings is most consistent with abusive head trauma and not the result of an accident.”

The arrest affidavit also says that the child’s mother reported that the baby “began projectile vomiting on Jan. 21, when the mother was at work and the father, Dustin, was caring for the child. (The mother) said she received a text message from Dustin on that date, advising her that the child was vomiting. She said when she got home from work that the child was still vomiting and that she took the child to the Henderson Hospital on Jan. 22. The Henderson Hospital staff recommended changing the child’s formula and she reports that it took until approximately Jan. 26 for the child to seem normal again.

“She then stated that she was at work on Jan. 30 and Dustin was alone watching the child. When she returned home on that date, the child was vomiting again and his temperature was elevated. When the child awoke around 5 a.m., the next morning, on Jan. 31, the child began to seize and she called 911.

“(The mother) reports that when she was informed by York General Hospital doctors that the child was going to be transported to Children’s Hospital, she thought it was because the child was very ill from the flu. (The mother) and Dustin rode together in the same vehicle to Omaha. At that time, no one had discussed with her or Dustin that the child was ill from anything other than the flu. The mother reported that during the ride to Omaha, Dustin made the statement ‘if they find anything that it will come back on us,’ and that he discussed the possibility of brain damage to the child.”

Investigators say that Dustin was the only person caring for the child on Jan. 21, while the mother was at work. When she returned home that day, she found the bedding off her bed in the laundry room, covered in vomit, and he said the child had vomited on the sheets when he placed him on the bed.

The final statement in the affidavit says that “Dr. Haney from Children’s Hospital indicates that the swelling brain and fluid in his head, along with the seizure activity, could be consistent with head trauma occurring 1-3 weeks prior to be transported to Children’s on Jan. 31. The symptoms presented by the child, beginning Jan. 21, are consistent with the child suffering abusive head trauma on Jan. 21, when Dustin was home alone caring for the child.”

Dubas has been formally charged with a Class 2 felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of 1-50 years in prison, if convicted.

The defendant is no longer in custody, as he was able to pay a $25,000, 10 percent bond. One condition of the bond is that he cannot have any contact with his infant son.

A preliminary hearing has been set for April 13, at 3:30 p.m., in the York County Court.

No charges of any kind have been brought against the mother in this matter.