Dad pleads guilty to felony child abuse involving 6-week-old daughter (Joplin, Missouri)

Dad is identified as CODY W. WILLIAMS.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/joplin-father-pleads-guilty-in-shaken-baby-case/article_7ec69cc6-67dc-535d-b1c9-cfe6874b801c.html

Joplin father pleads guilty in shaken-baby case

Posted: Monday, November 3, 2014 7:35 pm
By Jeff Lehr

A young Joplin father pleaded guilty Monday to a felony count of child abuse in a shaken-baby case.

Cody W. Williams, 26, changed his plea to guilty at a hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court in a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office. His plea bargain would limit the sentence he might receive to no more than 10 years. Williams had been facing the possibility of being assessed up to 15 years for causing a brain injury to his 6-week-old daughter.

Circuit Judge David Dally delayed formal acceptance or rejection of the plea deal and ordered the completion of a sentencing-assessment report on Williams. The judge set a sentencing hearing for Dec. 29.

Williams and the baby's mother brought her to the emergency room of Freeman Hospital West on Jan. 2. The infant, who was having seizures, was flown by medical helicopter to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Doctors soon determined that the girl had suffered shaken-baby injuries.

The father was interviewed by investigators and arrested the same day. A probable-cause affidavit states that he admitted shaking the girl inside their home.