A Twentynine Palms Marine went to trial in Joshua Tree on Thursday after being accused of shaking a baby so hard that she lapsed into a coma.
Marine John Rafeal Jeter, 27, was babysitting his girlfriend’s 5 ½-month-old baby while she ran out for errands, according to KCDZ.
Detectives stated in court that Jeter told police that he picked her up and shook her five or six times after she wouldn’t stop crying. It was when he heard the baby gasp, her eyes went wide and blank and white foam began leaking out of her mouth that he knew something was wrong.
A Loma Linda Medical Center forensic pediatrician also testified at the trial. She stated that the injury was not accidental and was in fact due to acceleration and deceleration of the brain which induced bleeding and swelling, according to the news source.
Jeter is being held at West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $550,000. He will be formally arraigned on the following charges September 7:
- Child abuse causing great bodily injury to a child under 8
- Bringing a weapon into jail.
© 2017 Bright Mountain Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.
