STILLWATER, Minn. - A South St. Paul man could face up to 103 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a 6-month old boy following a fight with the child's mother.
Mark James Nelson, age 32, entered the plea Wednesday in Washington County Court.
Prosecutors say that Nelson was caring for the boy, who was not his biological child, in August of 2011. He and the baby's mother were fighting about her going camping, Nelson was angry, and he admitted squeezing the child and hearing a pop.
The baby's mother noticed in subsequent days that he was not himself, and eventually brought him to the hospital. An examination showed 22 of the boy's 24 ribs were broken, and doctors also found bruising to the liver and lungs, together with trauma to the eyes, all consistent with child abuse.
When questioned, investigators say Nelson admitted to the abuse, and told them he had to give the baby mouth to mouth twice after he stopped breathing.
"The injuries this poor child suffered were absolutely horrendous, so horrendous that, when the guilty plea was entered one of the onlookers in the courtroom, there on another case, when hearing the facts began to cry," recalled County Attorney Pete Orput. "We are pleased to be able to bring some justice to this child and the family."
Minnesota Sentencing Guideline Sentence of between 74 and 103 months in prison. The plea of guilty
was in front of Judge John Hoffman and sentencing was set for March 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Nelson, who was dating the mother of the
infant, became angry with the mother. according to the complaint.
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