Dad sentenced to 8 years in prison for beating 4-month-old son (Fort Campbell, Kentucky)

It was not as a soldier that JAMES S. MARCINKOWSKI committed this crime. It was as a FATHER with access to a child that he beat his 4-month-old son. In fact, it was not just as any father either. It was as a "caretaking" father who was watching the baby while Mom was forced to work that he committed this crime. Even though she was trying to be responsible--putting food on the table and all that--she has lost custody to the grandparents.

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110615/NEWS01/106150325/Fort-Campbell-soldier-sentenced-8-years?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Fort Campbell soldier sentenced to 8 years in prison on child abuse charges11:23 PM, Jun. 14, 2011

Written by Tavia D. Green

A Fort Campbell soldier will serve eight years in prison for beating his 4-month-old son.

James S. Marcinkowski Sr., 23, was indicted in March and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse/ neglect. According to his arrest warrant, Marcinkowski took his 4-month-old son to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital's emergency room on Jan. 3 between 12:30 and 3 p.m. because the infant was bleeding from the mouth.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Nash said it was immediately recognized as abuse. "He had bruises on his head, back stomach, extremities and genital area," Nash said. "He had bleeding in his mouth from an injury under his tongue and they transferred him to Vanderbilt where it was determined he had internal liver injuries from being struck, and multiple areas of bleeding in the brain as well as a a scapula fracture."

On the day of the abuse, the child's mother was at work and left the child with Marcinkowski.

"She noticed child was acting strange and bleeding in the mouth," Nash said. "The father had been watching him all day and made up some story about the baby jumping out of a bouncy chair and hurting himself, but pediatric experts said there is no way a child that age could jump out of anything or inflict those wounds on himself and it caused bleeding in the brain. It was obvious abuse and Mr. Marcinkowski made admissions he had beat the child that day."

Marcinkowski admitted to police he struck the child with his hand, causing the injuries. Marcinkowski pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse Monday and was sentenced to eight years in prison without a chance for parole. He will have to serve 100 percent of the sentence.

Marcinkowski was listed on the arrest warrant as a a member of the 101st Sustainment Brigade at Fort Campbell. Nash said the child is alive and in the custody of his grandparents.

"They are still running tests and assessing the child. He could be facing some challenges developmentally because he suffered brain injury," Nash said. "Indications are good he will be able to progress normally right now. They are still monitoring his brain function."