Dad gets probation for abusing 3-month-old son; baby had rib fractures, brain hemorrhage (St. Paul, Minnesota)

All too typical of the coddling that violent fathers get.

Dad is identified as JOHN AUTEY.

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_27705944/st-paul-father-abuse-case-gets-2-years

St. Paul father in abuse case gets 2 years' probation

By Elizabeth Mohr

Posted: 03/13/2015 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 03/13/2015 09:13:18 PM CDT

Because a St. Paul father who injured his infant son had taken responsibility and cooperated fully with investigators, Ramsey County District Judge Joy Bartscher said she was treating this case differently from others.

"This case is different than the typical malicious punishment cases this court sees," Bartscher told John Autey, 45. "There was immediate acceptance of responsibility and full cooperation with probation and child protection."

She sentenced Autey on a gross misdemeanor instead of a felony and placed him on probation for two years.

Autey, a Pioneer Press photographer and employee since 1996, was charged in October with two felony counts of malicious punishment of a child. He pleaded guilty, and as part of the plea agreement, one charge was dismissed.

According to a criminal complaint, Autey brought his 3-month-old twin son to the United and Children's Hospital emergency room April 23 because the child had been vomiting since the previous day. Hospital staff called police and reported suspected child abuse.

The boy had rib fractures and a brain hemorrhage that wasn't life-threatening, the complaint said. Autey told investigators he was frustrated because the boy had been crying and he couldn't calm him.
He shook the child for five to 10 seconds, the complaint said.

Bartscher told Autey she recognized that, since the incident, he'd gotten counseling and complied with child protection recommendations.

"He's done everything anyone would ask him to do," she said. #Autey told the court he has become a different person.

"I'm just happy to be home with my children and to be enjoying the privilege of parenting," he said.

"Those three months I was out were the most difficult ... but they gave me time to reflect on the person I wanted to be."