By Howard Koplowitz
An Ozone Park father was charged Saturday with brutally assaulting his infant daughter, who sustained 17 fractured ribs, a lacerated liver and a bite mark on her leg, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Juan Gomez, 23, of 104-01 Liberty Ave. was arraigned Saturday on assault charges before Queens Criminal Court Judge Lenora Gerald, who set bail at $250,000, a spokeswoman for Brown said Monday.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges, Brown said.
Gomez was responsible for baby-sitting his infant daughter Hailey while her mother worked, the DA said.
At the end of January, Gomez was alone with Hailey and got frustrated because she would not stop crying, Brown said.
Gomez allegedly bit the infant on her right leg, leaving a bite mark, the DA said. To conceal what he had done, Gomez bathed the baby for the following week so nobody could see the bite mark, Brown said.
Gomez allegedly made statements to police and prosecutors that he would grab his daughter by the feet and ankles and push her legs back until her feet and ankles were bent back onto her chest, that he head-butted the baby with his head piercings bruising her head and that he would throw his daughter about a foot in the air and catch her by placing his hands over her rib cage, Brown said.
Hailey was taken to Schneider Children’s Hospital last week with bruises to her chest and eye, a healing fracture in her foot, a fractured ankle, a healing fracture to the lower leg, a bite mark on her right leg, 17 fractured ribs, a lacerated liver and difficulty breathing due to a disruption to the lining of her lung, Brown said.
“The extent of the physical injuries that this innocent and helpless child suffered in just the first few weeks of her life is beyond comprehension. That they were allegedly committed by her father boggles the mind,” the DA said in a statement. “This case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
