Berea College student accused of child abuse

Local News

March 18, 2010

By Brian Smith Register News Writer The Richmond Register Thu Mar 18, 2010, 11:11 AM EDT

RICHMOND — A grand jury will consider a first-degree criminal abuse charge against a Berea College student accused of injuring his 6-week-old daughter. Brian Farris, 20, was charged after state child abuse investigators contacted Berea police Feb. 16 once the child was admitted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington with multiple injuries. Detective Lee Ann Boyle testified Wednesday at a preliminary hearing in Madison District Court about her investigation into the case. Boyle said doctors diagnosed the infant with a brain hemorrhage, lacerations to her liver, rib and wrist fractures, evidence of seizures and other internal bleeding. Doctors at the hospital said the injuries are indicative of the child being shaken, Boyle said. The infant spent 10 days in the hospital before being released, Boyle said, and doctors are unsure how much developmental damage may have resulted from her injuries. Boyle said Farris and his wife both admitted in multiple statements that Farris “had been rough” with the child while playing, including bouncing the child onto a bed and throwing the child into the air. Farris’ wife told Boyle that she had nursed the girl earlier in the evening and handed the child to Farris to burp. Boyle said Farris’ wife told her Farris took the child upstairs for “about 15 minutes” and then returned with the child, at which point the mother noticed the child was having difficulty breathing. Farris told Boyle he was working on homework and had the baby in his lap and was attempting to burp the child by patting her on the stomach. He denied ever shaking the child, Boyle said. During cross-examination by defense attorney Brian Barker, Boyle said Farris was initially hesitant about taking the child to the hospital, but his wife insisted. Boyle also testified that Farris’ wife said she had seen Farris researching “shaken baby syndrome” on the Internet approximately two weeks prior to the incident. Farris also told Boyle at one point that he had continued to play with the child roughly despite complaints from the child’s grandparents “out of spite,” she said. Madison District Judge Charles Hardin issued a probable cause finding after the hearing, sending the case to a grand jury for possible indictment. Hardin also said he was “appalled” by the allegations in the case and the bond Farris was required to post in the case. The bond was amended last Wednesday to only require 10 percent of a $10,000 cash bond to be posted while Hardin was out of town. Hardin also spoke directly to Farris about his behavior following the hearing. “I don’t see any remorse on your face,” Hardin said. He also told Farris that as a father, he was concerned by the allegations in the case. Farris remains free on bond, but Hardin ordered him to have no contact with the child. Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@ richmondregister.com or at 624-6694. For breaking news, follow Brian at www.twitter.com/ RR_BSmith.

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