COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Sherwood man entered a guilty plea to a charge of third degree child abuse Thursday in Branch County Circuit Court following incidents with his baby son in June 2018.
25-year-old James William Smith is scheduled to be sentenced October 7, 2019. In exchange for his plea, two second degree child abuse counts will be dismissed by prosecutors.
Smith was charged following a Michigan State Police investigation which started after they got information from doctors that the infant suffered “non-accidental” head trauma. According to court documents, Smith allegedly picked the baby up too fast after getting upset while changing its diaper. Smith was also accused of dropping the youngster while carrying the boy.
Back in February, the Branch County Board of Commissioners approved a request from Circuit Court Judge Bill O’Grady for $2,500 so that the defense could retain a medical expert during Smith’s trial. Smith was indigent and O’Grady said the request was being made in order to provide Smith with an appropriate defense.
