Dad convicted of reckless homicide in death of 1-month-old son (Sheboygan, Wisconsin)

Dad ANDREW GOLDSTON has been convicted of reckless homicide in the death of his 1-month-old son. Turns out to be another "angry" daddy who took his sh** out on the baby.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/28203236/detail.html

Father Convicted After Infant Son's Death In Sheboygan County
Prosecutors Say Father Caused Fatal Brain Injuries To Child
Updated: 10:42 am CDT June 11, 2011

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- A jury in Sheboygan County has convicted a young father of reckless homicide in the death of his infant son.

Prosecutors said Andrew Goldston, 24, caused fatal brain injuries that resulted in the March 2010 death of his 1-month-old.

A jury deliberated for five hours Thursday before deciding the child's injuries were too severe for the accidental fall which Goldston described.

http://oshkoshhub.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110607/SHE0101/106070368/Father-goes-on-trial-for-son-s-death

Mother testifies against Sheboygan father on trial for death of infant son

By Eric Litke • Sheboygan Press staff • June 7, 2011

The mother of an infant child allegedly killed by his father testified Monday about her last moments with her son.

Tammy DePagter said her then-boyfriend, Andrew Goldston, took 1-month-old Leander out of her arms as the two argued on March 9, 2010. She said that was the first time she had left Goldston alone with Leander and her then-2-year-old daughter.

"I didn't want to, but he took Leander out of my arms, so I decided to go," said DePagter, 21, of Sheboygan. "(Leander) was completely fine. Before (Goldston) took him he was kind of falling asleep. … He kind of put his head up and kind of looked over in my direction."

DePagter said she went to a friend's apartment, where about 45 minutes later she got a call saying the boy was in the hospital. Leander died nine days later of what doctors called "abusive head trauma."

Goldston, 24, of Sheboygan, is on trial for allegedly causing the death, charged with a felony count of first-degree reckless homicide. A jury of eight men and five women was chosen Monday morning to decide the case, which is scheduled to last all week.

DePagter, the first witness for the prosecution, testified for about an hour.

She said Goldston had little contact with the child for a two-week span, as Goldston was sick and didn't want to spread the disease. As a result, DePagter said Leander initially cried when Goldston held him, forcing him to hand the boy off to DePagter.

"Right before March 9, Leander started being more comfortable around Andy," DePagter said. "He was able to settle him down for the most part, but not all the time."

DePagter also said she had concerns with Goldston's treatment of her then-2-year-old daughter.

"He would spank her very harshly or strongly," DePagter said. "He just spanks her because she's crying."

A doctor scheduled to testify today has said Leander suffered retinal hemorrhaging that was in a "classic pattern for abusive head trauma." Other injuries included bleeding on the surface and interior of the brain, swelling to the soft tissue on the side of his head, bleeding in his left ear and bruising to his eyelid.

Prosecutors played a brief 911 call placed by Goldston after the child was injured.

"I was, I was holding my son, he's a month old, I tried to get out of the chair, and I accidentally dropped him onto our bouncy," Goldston said. "His heart is still going, but he's not breathing."

The description conflicts with what Goldston later told police, when he said he dropped Leander onto a carpeted floor while reaching for a television remote. The dispatcher, Christine Damkot, testified upon questioning from a defense attorney that 911 callers sometimes misspeak, but she noted that Goldston was calmer than many 911 callers.

Goldston has been held in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond since his arrest, a total of 15 months.