Custodial dad faces trial on child abuse charges (Madera County, California)

KMPH is to be commended for their great coverage of this case. They are one of the few news outlets which have questioned why a father with a history of violence and child abuse had been awarded custody of a young child (an infant actually). See our previous post here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2012/05/dad-has-violent-criminal-history-why.html

http://www.kmph.com/story/18732451/child-abuse-charge-north-fork-dad-faces-trial

Child Abuse Charge: North Fork Dad Faces Trial

Posted: Jun 07, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 08, 2012 1:08 AM CDT
By KMPH Web Staff - email

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) - A North Fork man charged with felony child abuse is scheduled to go on trial next week, the Madera County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

According to Madera County Sheriff's Deputies, 33-year-old Marc McMurrain left his 8 ½-month-old son alone in a van as he carried supplies to a picnic area at Bass Lake back on May 14. While he was gone, deputies say the baby boy crawled out of a broken window and landed head first on the ground.

A Good Samaritan found the boy and called 911. He was flown to the hospital for treatment and was later placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Later that afternoon, McMurrain attacked a KMPH News reporter and photographer who were covering the story at Bass Lake, and it was all caught on video.

Jail records show McMurrain was arrested on three counts of child abuse last year and spent more than two months in jail before he was released.

McMurrain will be arraigned on the felony charge on June 15 in Madera County Superior Court.