Dad accused of beating 6-month-old son to face trial (Taylor, Michigan)

Dad is identified as NICHOLAS ALAN SPIRDIONE.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/08/28/news/doc53fe97c381422637954095.txt

Father of 'Baby Jesse' to face trial Dec. 10

Published: Thursday, August 28, 2014

By Anne Runkle
The News-Herald

A Taylor man accused of beating his six-month-old son, “Baby Jesse,” will stand trial on Dec. 10 in Wayne County Circuit Court.

If Nicholas Alan Spirdione, 23, is convicted of one of the two most serious charges, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Spirdione was arraigned Aug. 25 before Circuit Judge Gregory Bill. He stood mute; a plea of not guilty was entered for him.

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.

Spirdione waived his preliminary examination of the evidence against him Aug. 18 in 23rd District Court in Taylor.

Stahl testified 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, now 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 is being held in the Wayne County Jail. He is charged with torture, two counts of first-degree child abuse, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and domestic violence.