Dad found guilty of fracturing skull of infant son; baby in "custodial arrangement" between parents (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

Dad MATTHEW D. TAYLOR has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against his infant son. Note that he has not been forthcoming with the details that lead to this baby's multiple skull fractures, but gets just 18 - 24 months in prison anyway. Notice that the baby's mom has been erased from this account entirely, and that only Daddy's (enabling) mother and sister appear.  

Notice also that this baby was assaulted at least twice. And why didn't anybody act the first time when the baby showed up in the emergency room with a broken eye socket at the age of only 17 days?

Fortunately, we can solve the mystery of the missing mother. According to an earlier post of ours, this newborn was subjected to a "custody arrangement" with the father. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: It is absolute idiocy for newborns to be subjected to joint custody. At best, the arrangement results in a disruption of the baby's caretaking routine and/or maternal bonding. At worst, you end up with an indifferent abuser daddy caring for a baby--all so he can save a few bucks on child support.

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2011/01/dad-admits-to-fracturing-newborn-sons.html

http://articles.mcall.com/2011-04-08/news/mc-bethlehem-child-abuse-father-20110408_1_room-for-extensive-injuries-skull-fractures-and-bruises-infant

Father sentenced for harm to infant
Matthew Taylor of Bethlehem fractured son's skull. He gets 18-24 months.April 08, 2011|By Nicole Radzievich, OF THE MORNING CALL

A young Bethlehem father learned Friday he will spend the next 18 to 24 months in state prison because he fractured his infant son's skull.

Asking for mercy, Matthew D. Taylor, 24, said the incident — which happened more than a year ago — still haunts him and he can't sleep because of what he did.

He didn't explain the details of the assault, but his defense attorney, Eleanor Breslin, noted that caring for infants can be so stressful that hospitals routinely show videos to new parents on ways to prevent abuse.

Taylor, who was accompanied by his mother and sister, said he wishes he could turn back the clock.

"It's hard to live without him, and I miss him," said Taylor, who had been in prison pending his sentence. "Clearly, I wish I would have been able to take a step back and thought just a second.

Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a felony, for abuse that was uncovered after the baby was twice taken to an emergency room for extensive injuries to his head.

The child was just 17 days old when he was brought to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg on Aug. 4, 2009, with a broken eye socket, police said.

Five months later, the boy was again at the hospital, that time for multiple skull fractures and bruises on his forehead.

Taylor's attorney pointed out that the plea agreement did not cover the first incident.

After hearing arguments about the stress of caring for a newborn, Northampton County Judge Leonard Zito asked about the other feelings fatherhood should evoke.

"How about feelings of pride, purpose and expectation, saying, 'My life has changed today?' " Zito asked.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Broscius said she sympathizes with Taylor's family but said that Taylor has never given a full explanation of the events and noted his "ridiculous excuses" from the start. She noted that he blamed the 17-day-old baby for poking him in the eye, causing him to drop the baby, though Taylor wears glasses.

"This was a 17-day-old baby," Broscius said. "He can't speak for himself."

In addition to Taylor's prison sentence, Zito ordered him to serve 60 months of probation.