Coldwater, Michigan, Mother Charged With Sexual Assault, Abuse Of 2-Month-Old Son

A young mother from Coldwater, Michigan, is facing three felony charges for allegedly abusing her infant son.

As noted by the Daily Reporter, 26-year-old Karah Shepherd was formally charged with several counts of child abuse on Monday following a two-month long investigation by the Michigan State Police. According to court documents in the case, Shepherd’s child, then just 2-months-old, was admitted to the Community Health Center of Branch County in July with numerous injuries that were confirmed to have been incurred from his agitated mother.

As stated in the police report, Shepherd admitted to several witnesses and law enforcement that she had purposefully dropped the baby on the floor when he wouldn’t stop crying. She then grabbed him by his legs and squeezed them “as hard as she could,” before purportedly doing the same to the child’s genital area.

The detailing also marked damage that was done to the young boy’s anus, which was said to have come from an “accidental” penetration as Shepherd was changing his diaper one day. Following the examination, the instance was immediately reported to Child Protective Services who, in turn, took immediate custody of the baby.

The boy’s father, who was seemingly not romantically connected to Shepherd at the time, claimed to know nothing of the abuse and indicated to the court that she had full physical custody of his son. He is currently fighting a petition to have his, along with Shepherd’s, custodial rights revoked.

Judge Kirk Kashian, who is overlooking the case, called the troublesome matter, “one of the worst cases of child abuse” that he has seen in his 20 years on the bench.

After being arrested, Shepherd was charged with two counts of first-degree child abuse, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct due to the genital squeezing, and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct due to the penetration of the boy’s anus. If found guilty, she is looking a life sentence in prison. She is currently scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing on October 3, and a preliminary mental health exam on October 10.

Whereas Shepherd might be charged with sexual crimes against her infant, most in America are still justifiably confused over the leniency that was given to an Iowa man who sexually assaulted a 1-year-old baby girl.

As mentioned by the Inquisitr, 19-year-old Kraigen Grooms was recently given a 10-year-long suspended prison sentence after pleading to the lesser charge of engaging in a lascivious act with a child. Reports say that back in 2013, federal officials became familiar with a video that showed a man performing a sex act on an incredibly young child. That man was ultimately discovered to be Grooms, who was 16 at the time of the alleged assault.

#BREAKING: "John Doe" identified as 17-year-old Kraigen Grooms of Ottumwa, IA. Police say he is charged as an adult pic.twitter.com/obzAmlD8ps

— Cody Lillich (@CodyLillich) March 20, 2014

Through a joint investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uncovered that the molestation had actually been done at the behest of a New Orleans resident, who tricked Grooms into believing that he was interacting with a teenage girl. It is unknown whether or not the identity of that person has ever been uncovered. As for Grooms, he was arrested one year later and initially charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony.

Incidentally, the family of the young girl, whose identities have also never been revealed, stated to the court that they never wanted Grooms to be imprisoned for his actions.

“One of the most significant factors affecting the outcome of this case was that the parents of the victim did not wish Grooms to go to prison or serve significant jail time,” noted Wapello County attorney Gary Oldenburger, as specified by the New York Daily News. “Their primary concern was that he receive treatment.”

[Featured Image by filrom/iStock]