Dad sentenced to 45 years in prison for abusing twin infant sons (Bartlesville, Oklahoma)

Dad CHESTER TANNER COOPER will be heading off to prison for 45 years--with 30 years to serve. We've reported on this case before, but I still have yet to see a single word about the mother of these babies. How and why were they in this violent man's "care"?

http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/articles/2011/10/19/news/01coopersentencingweb.txt

Father sentenced on abuse of twin boys
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 5:01 PM CDT

Chester Tanner Cooper was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to 45 years -- with 30 to serve -- on a count of child abuse by injury and to a 45-year suspended sentence on a count of child abuse, to run consecutive to the first count, for the abuse of his twin 2 1/2-month-old sons.

District Judge Curtis DeLapp gave Cooper, 21, an opportunity to withdraw his blind plea to the two counts after Cooper's attorney, Steven G. Venturi, expressed confusion over the state's recommendation on sentencing. The state had made a recommendation for 25 years -- with 15 to serve -- which, according to District Attorney Kevin Buchanan, was rejected in April.

DeLapp explained that if sentencing proceeded, with a blind plea, he would have the ultimate decision on the sentencing.

Cooper agreed to proceed.

The case began on Dec. 13, 2010, when Bartlesville Police Department officers responded to a local hospital in reference to a baby brought to the emergency room with possible head injuries.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, the 2 1/2-month-old alleged victim was found to have "several fractures to his skull" and "bleeding on his brain in various areas and in various stages of healing."

The infant was flown by helicopter to Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, while the baby's twin brother was admitted locally for observation.

When interviewed, police say Cooper "described and demonstrated using force on both boys in the past four days that would be sufficient force to cause (the alleged victim's) injuries," the affidavit states.