Dad who injured 1-month-old daughter given 10 years (Springtown, Texas)

Dad is identified as MICHEAL SLOCUM.

http://weatherforddemocrat.com/local/x1901562143/Father-who-injured-baby-given-10-years

June 14, 2012

Father who injured baby given 10 years Christin Coyne

CNHI The Weatherford Democrat Thu Jun 14, 2012, 08:00 AM CDT

SPRINGTOWN — A Springtown man, accused of causing a brain injury to his infant daughter last year, pleaded guilty Thursday to recklessly causing bodily injury to a child and received a 10-year sentence.

The 1-month-old girl was taken to the hospital Feb. 11, 2011 after she reportedly stopped breathing momentarily and had seizure activity while home alone with her father.

Doctors found internal head trauma, as well as bruising to her ear, forehead and leg.

It’s not clear exactly what 25-year-old Micheal Slocum did to cause the brain injuries, the type of injuries commonly described as “shaken baby,” Assistant District Attorney Jeff Swain said. Slocum did reportedly admit to throwing the child on a bed though hospital staff told investigators they believed that story was inconsistent with the child’s injuries, according to court records.

Medical professionals told investigators they believed the child’s head was moved around violently to cause the brain injuries, Springtown Police Lt. Curtis Stone told the Democrat last year.

The girl was reportedly hospitalized for more than a week and required additional surgeries after she was discharged.

“The last we understood, the child was a little bit delayed,” Swain said.

According to court records, the girl, who had been placed with her maternal grandmother, was returned to her 23-year-old mother in August after the girl’s mother demonstrated compliance with the CPS service plan for the family.

Months later, the girl was described as a “happy, healthy infant” by CPS.

Slocum, who was indicted on first degree felony injury to a child and a charge of failing to seek medical help for child, faced probation to 20 years in prison on the second degree felony charge of injury to a child he pleaded guity to.

“The mother was absolutely in favor of what we did,” Swain said. “She felt [the sentence] was appropriate.”