Dad charged with assaulting 2-month-old daughter; baby has permanent neurological damage (Lehigh County, Pennsylania)

It appears that dad EDUARDO MAHONES had been babysitting for just a short time when he assaulted his 2-month-old daughter for crying. Yet another example why volatile, young male caretakers are a bad idea....

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2015/02/baby_has_permanent_neurologica.html

Baby has permanent neurological damage after alleged shaking by father, prosecutor says

By Sarah Cassi | lehighvalleylive.com on February 27, 2015 at 11:27 AM, updated February 27, 2015 at 12:12 PM

Allentown police say a city man seriously injured his baby daughter after violently shaking her. #A 2-month-old girl has permanent neurological damage, the extent of which won't be known for some time, after allegedly being shaken by her father, prosecutors said Friday.

Lehigh County Deputy District Attorney Matt Falk revealed the girl's diagnosis at the preliminary hearing for her father, Eduardo Mahones.

Mahones, 23, waived his hearing on charges of aggravated assault of a child, child endangerment and simple assault. The charges now go to Lehigh County Court, where Mahones faces trial. #Mahones is in Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail and defense attorney Gavin Holihan asked a reduction in bail.

Mahones arrived in Pennsylvania 10 months ago from Puerto Rico, where he grew up. In Puerto Rico, he was charged in May with possession of a dangerous drug, but Lehigh County Pretrial Services does not know the resolution to that case.

District Judge Michael Faulkner kept bail the same.

Allentown police said Mahones violently shook the baby until she was unconscious, causing multiple hemorrhages.

Allentown police say the girl was treated for severe head injuries at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township and a child abuse investigation began Jan. 26.

In an interview with police, Mahones told officers that on the evening of Jan. 26 his wife went to the store and left the baby in his care. Mahones said the baby was crying and would not stop, and that he picked up the baby and shook her three or four times until she was unconscious, police said.

Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, a child abuse expert, said the child suffered multiple subdural hemorrhages, and the injuries were consistent with being violently shaken, records say.