A 31-year-old Ocala man is facing up to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of aggravated child abuse last week, more than four years after he caused life-threatening injuries to an infant.
On Friday, December 13, 2024, a two-day trial came to an end when jurors found B O A guilty of aggravated child abuse. Court records show that a motion for a new trial was denied by the judge four days later.
The child abuse charge against A stems from an incident in 2020. That year, on April 11, the two-month-old male victim was transported by Marion County Fire Rescue to AdventHealth Ocala. The following day, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the infant had been rushed by helicopter to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville due to the severity of his injuries.
Doctors informed an MCSO detective that the victim had bilateral rib fractures that had already healed, along with petechial hemorrhaging, hemorrhaging to his brain, and bucket handle tibia fractures.
All of the injuries were determined to have been caused by “non-accidental trauma,” according to an MCSO report.
A detective made contact with A and conducted an interview. A recounted an incident that had occurred a few weeks earlier when he was awakened after hearing a “gurgling” sound. He stated that he found the victim to be unresponsive, and the victim had vomit on his face.
A claimed that he “delivered blows” to the victim’s back and administered CPR until the victim became responsive again. He told investigators that he did not seek medical attention for the victim because he did not believe the victim was injured, according to the MCSO report.
Upon learning more details about the extent of the victim’s injuries, the detective returned to A and conducted a second interview. The sheriff’s office stated that A admitted to the detective that he had become “frustrated” in the past.
During that second interview, A admitted to picking up the victim and “shaking” him in an attempt to get him to stop crying or calm down, according to the sheriff’s office.
A was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he remains in custody while he awaits sentencing. He is facing up to 30 years in prison.
A sentencing hearing for A has not yet been scheduled, according to court records.
Suffering a personal injury can be a life-changing event, leaving you with physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burdens. The Ovadia Law Group is here to help you navigate this challenging time. Our experienced team of attorneys specializes in personal injury cases, providing expert legal representation to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. We understand the complexities of personal injury law and are committed to fighting for your rights. Contact us at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and let us help you on your road to recovery.
Source: ocala-news
