Dad who pleaded no contest to beating 6-month-old son to be sentenced (Taylor, Michigan)

Dad is identified as NICHOLAS SPIRDIONE.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/10/06/news/doc5432fea399deb349821142.txt

Taylor father accused of beating baby to be sentenced Tuesday

Published: Monday, October 06, 2014

By Anne Runkle
The News-Herald

A Taylor father pleaded no contest to five counts against him in connection with the beating of his six-month-old son and faces sentencing Tuesday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Nicholas Spirdione, 23, father of “Baby Jesse” could receive up to life in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Gregory Bill.

Spirdione’s son, Jesse, underwent numerous surgeries and spent about a month in the hospital earlier this year after police were called to the home Spirdione shared with the child’s mother in the 6600 block of Pine Street. The infant’s mother, Corie Stahl, told police and paramedics the child was having trouble breathing.

Stahl testified at a court appearance in 23rd District Court in August that she was in the kitchen preparing the infant’s food when Spirdione brought the child to her and she noted that his cry wasn’t normal, he had marks on one side of his head that looked like ink and his eyes weren’t focusing. She said doctors at Children’s Hospital of Michigan told her the child needed emergency surgery if he was going to survive.

Stahl told the court that Jesse, then 10 months, is “perfectly fine,” although he is somewhat behind in his development. He goes for occupational and physical therapy several times per week, she said.

Spirdione was charged with two counts of first-degree child abuse and one count each of torture, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and domestic violence. He pleaded no contest at a pretrial hearing last month, according to the Circuit Court website.