A babysitter is accused of burning a 10-month-old infant with a lighter.
Sean Anthony Middleton of Portland now faces four counts of third-degree assault and four counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment with each bail charge penciled at $5,000. The 21-year-old also faces a one count harassment charge with bail pinned at $1,500.
According to court documents made available to PEOPLE , the infant’s mother had known the accused for about three months and felt that she could trust him with her child. The mother said the 21-year-old had sent her a text the same day saying her toddler had been scratched by a cat and a subsequent text claiming the little boy had bumped his head on a skateboard.
The mother said she checked her son for injuries when she picked him up but found nothing. However, she told detectives that she noticed several bruises and burns while changing her son’s diaper. When she asked Middleton about it, the 21-year-old said he had no knowledge of the injuries whatsoever.
The worried mother took her child to the hospital where doctors noticed more injuries on the 10-month-old boy. Oregon Live is reporting that the infant had bruises on his cheeks, abdomen, back, genitals, chin, and forehead. Doctors also confirmed scratches on the boy’s face, a moon-shaped burn on his back, as well as scorched hair.
Sean Middleton faces criminal mistreatment and child abuse charges in case of baby boy who was bruised and burned. #fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/VPppVUnLwl
— Marilyn Deutsch KPTV (@marilyndeutsch) October 24, 2017
A child abuse doctor determined that the 10-month old boy’s injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma. Doctors revealed that the child was dehydrated and had not been given food or water. The baby also tested positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana.
Middleton would later confess to detectives that he grew frustrated with the child’s cries and burnt his hair and back with a lighter. The 21-year-old admitted that he did it “for no reason” other than to “entertain his thoughts.”
Sean Middleton also told detectives that he had held his hand over the baby’s mouth to keep him quiet.
Neighbors living near the apartment were shocked to hear the horrific details of abuse. Terry Burton who lives two doors down from Middleton said she heard the baby crying when she walked down the hallway. She said that it sounded as if the child was choking, adding that she should have gone with her gut feeling and done something.
“I should’ve went with my gut feeling. I should’ve knocked on the door and done something. How can anybody do that to anybody, let alone a 10-month-old baby?”
[Featured Image by TLRG /Thinkstock]
