Dad gets 2-5 years in prison for abusing infant son; baby had multiple fractures (Brentwood, New Hampshire)

Typical story. Daddy was "in charge" of infant care for a 14-day period (because he was unemployed? Because he had visitation?) and spent the time playing video games. And no doubt getting frustrated when the baby did outrageous things like crying, needing to be fed, have diapers changed, etc. So he broke the baby's bones.

Note that Mom is being held responsible for "endangerment" even though she wasn't "in charge." Wonder if she was working to support the family while Daddy played at being a stay-at-home parent.

Since this baby was barely a month old when Daddy assaulted him, once again we have to lament the lack of paid maternity leaves in the U.S.

Dad is identified as CAVAN MOORE.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140129/NEWS03/140129152

January 29. 2014 1:53PM

Raymond father gets prison time in baby abuse case

By JAMES A. KIMBLE
Union Leader Correspondent

BRENTWOOD – A Raymond man who broke his infant son’s ankle last December was sentenced two to five years in state prison as part of a negotiated plea deal with county prosecutors.

Judge Kenneth McHugh also sentenced Cavan Moore, 27, to two other suspended prison sentences for breaking his infant son’s left rib and his wrist sometime between Dec. 10 and Dec. 28. 2012.

The suspended sentences – each three-to-six years – can be imposed within the next five years if Moore runs afoul of the law, according to court documents.

Moore pleaded guilty on Nov. 27 in Rockingham County Superior Court to three counts of second-degree assault.

Each charges was punishable by 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison. Prosecutors dropped another 11 counts of second-degree assault.

The baby, who suffered breaks to his ankle and ribs, was born Nov. 3, 2012, according to prosecutors.

Raymond police were called in to investigate the injuries after Moore had brought his infant son to Exeter Hospital last Dec. 28, prosecutors said.

Doctors who analyzed X-Rays taken of the baby boy concluded that he suffered from “classic child abuse fractures,” according to Assistant County Attorney Kirsten Wilson.

Prosecutors believe that Moore inflicted the injuries sometime between Dec. 14 and Dec. 28 – a period where Moore was in charge of diaper changes and taking care of the baby.

Raymond police Det. Richard Labell testified at a hearing in September that Moore told him that he may have “stepped on his son’s ankle while playing video games.” Moore later made a different statement to police saying that he may have sat on his son’s ankle.

McHugh rejected a bid by public defenders to have those statements thrown out of court.

Moore has already spent 390 days in the Rockingham County jail, which will count toward his state prison term.

Moore’s wife, Erica, is expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment charges next month. The charges are punishable by up to a year in county jail, but she is expected to draw a suspended sentence in exchange for her plea, court records indicate.