Dad sentenced to 14 years for abusing 5-month-old son (Weld County, Colorado)

Notice that fathers rights ideology being propagated by daddy's defense attorney. "BUT CHILDREN NEED THEIR DADDEEEEE!" And why does this child "need" dad JONATHAN HIGGINS? So he can get just a little more brain damage? A few more broken ribs? Or have his life snuffed out entirely? This is how bankrupt fathers rights is in practice. Makes no distinction between good and positive people in a child's life (whether they are biological fathers or not) and "frustrated" criminals who happen to be sperm donors. And given that some of the baby's injuries were into the healing stage, this clearly wasn't a single incident of  Daddy "losing it" either.

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20120217/NEWS/702179992/1005&parentprofile=1

Father sentenced to 14 years for abuse of infant son

By Sarah Simmons
Greeley Tribune

Friday, February 17, 2012

A 27-year-old father was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison for abusing his 5-month-old son last May.

Jonathan Higgins, of Windsor, who has been held at the Weld County Jail since his arrest in May 2011, was sentenced for one felony charge of child abuse resulting in the serious bodily injury of his son.

According to Higgins’ arrest affidavit, Windsor police were called to Poudre Valley Hospital on May 24, to investigate the cause of Higgins’ son’s injuries. The child suffered several bruises on his body, six broken ribs in various stages of healing, and he had significant fluids in the brain.

The doctor treating the child told police the injuries were healing and were about six weeks old.

Higgins originally told police he thought he was responsible for his son’s injuries, having placed him roughly down into his bouncy seat in frustration, according to the affidavit. He also told police he had squeezed him tightly, which may have caused the child’s bruises.

Deputy District Attorney Hollie Wilkinson told the court Higgins later changed his story, saying the child’s mother had spent the most time with the child and he could not explain how he was injured.

Justin Reed, Higgins’ defense attorney, said Higgins has changed his story three times because he does not know how his son was injured and was trying to offer possible scenarios.

Reed asked the court to consider ordering Higgins to serve eight years, the minimum time for the charge. He also asked the court to remember that despite the terrible nature of his injuries, Higgins’ son will need a father figure as he grows up.

“To throw the book at Mr. Higgins and remove him from his son entirely is a mistake,” Reed said to the court. “At some point I think everyone is going to need to realize that he’s going to need a father, too.”

Michelle Golden, the infant’s mother, spoke at the sentencing, asking for the maximum sentence of 16 years.

“I feel it is not right or fair for us to suffer for what he did,” Golden told the court. “None of us had a choice in what happened, so neither should he. I ask that you give him the maximum sentence of 16 years.”

Higgins cried, often wiping his eyes with his shirt, as he addressed the court, saying he was sorry for what had happened.

“I am truly sorry and I just wish the best for my son,” Higgins said through his sobs. “I’ve been in custody for 271 days and I don’t even know what my son looks like. I don’t know what he sounds like anymore, and I am truly sorry.”

When Higgins finishes his sentence, he must serve a mandatory three-year parole period.