Dad admits he slammed and threw 2-month-old daughter; blames his ADD (Malone, New York)

His ADD made him do it? These guys sure come up with lots of excuses for their violence.

Dad is identified as JAMES J. WHITNEY.

http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/malone-father-admits-to-child-assault/article_242eddcc-b057-5579-bfe7-76f373447d4e.html

Malone father admits to child assault

Posted: Monday, November 10, 2014 2:42 pm
Denise A. Raymo, Press-Republican

MALONE — A Malone man pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting his infant daughter and will be sentenced in Franklin County Court on Jan. 26.

James J. Whitney, 29, admitted to reckless assault of a child and confessed that, while she was in his care on Dec. 29, 2013, he slammed and threw the baby girl, then 2 months old, so that her head hit a hard surface.

Jaycie Whitney, who celebrated her first birthday on Halloween, reportedly has some developmental issues as a result of her father’s violence.

He could face up to six years in state prison for the violent-felony conviction.

Whitney was deemed competent to stand trial last month during a hearing held before County Court Judge Robert G. Main Jr.

The defense, headed by Public Defender Thomas Soucia, had claimed Whitney could not fully participate in his defense at trial because he has attention-deficit disorder, heightened anxiety levels and trouble understanding the more complicated words police investigators and mental-health experts used when interviewing him.

 Prosecution witnesses said Whitney would have likely been under great stress while on trial, but that would not have caused him irreparable mental harm.

 Main agreed, saying accommodations could be made to reduce the anticipated stress.