Dad gets prison for 19 bone fractures inflicted on 3-week-old son (Sparta, Michigan)

Dad is identified as DAVID STEIGER.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/02/sparta_father_will_spend_3-12.html

Sparta father will spend 3-1/2 to 10 years in prison following abuse of infant causing 19 bone fractures

By Barton Deiters on February 05, 2014 at 10:57 AM

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The man who police say abused a 3-week-old infant so badly the child was left with 19 bone fractures will spend 3-1/2 to 10 years in prison.

The child’s mother, Chelsi Knop, was in Kent County Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 4 where she told a judge that although the actions of her now ex-husband David Steiger left her son with horrific injuries, she hopes her baby’s father gets psychological help, not just incarceration.

Last month, 20-year-old Steiger pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree child abuse.

The charges came June 30 when Steiger and Knop brought the 3-week-old child to a hospital after the infant would not stop crying.

Doctors say the child's femur and tibia in his left leg were broken and doctors also discovered at least 17 other fractures on the boy, according to police.

Sparta police investigated the child’s home on Gunn Street and interviewed Steiger who allegedly admitted to “pushing” the baby’s legs and hearing a "pop."

Steiger told police the infants legs did not move right after that. Steiger admitted to “pushing” the child's legs and he also said the boy fell off a couch.

"Defendant admitted he could have caused the injuries, however he blacked out," a police investigator wrote in an affidavit.

Steiger told police that he and his wife were the child's only caregivers and claimed Knop was not responsible for any injuries, according to court records.

Steiger’s wife filed for divorce in Kent County Family Court on Oct. 31.

Knop told Judge Donald Johnston that despite some dire predictions by doctors, her son is now a happy healthy child.