Oregon man gets 3 years’ probation for breaking infant son’s bones

BEND, Ore. — An Oregon man was sentenced to three years of probation after he pleaded guilty to losing his temper and causing injuries to his infant son.

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Charles Pete Medley, 36, a former hospital worker, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, The Bulletin of Bend reported. In addition to the probation, a judge attached several conditions, including attending parenting and aggression control classes, the newspaper reported.

If Medley violates the condition, he could receive a four-year prison sentence, according to The Bulletin.

“We’re not condoning this -- my God, we’re not condoning this,” prosecutor Andrew Doyle told the newspaper. “This is not a scenario, from the state’s perspective, where there is a super well-equipped person who simply disregarded norms.

“We thought if we put a big enough penalty under him and ask him to do a whole lot of things, he benefits, the community benefits, the state benefits. We all benefit.”

Medley was arrested after his then-15-week-old son arrived for a checkup at a hospital with injuries that included skull fractures, leg fractures and a brain bleed, The Associated Press reported.

At the time, Medley was working the graveyard shift at a Bend hospital, emptying trash containers, The Bulletin reported. Medley allegedly told police he was getting less than four hours of sleep nightly and was experiencing stress from his son’s birth and isolation related to the coronavirus pandemic, the newspaper reported.

Medley had no prior criminal record, but defense attorney Clark Fry admitted his client went from “zero to 60 pretty fast.”

“It was more like zero to 260, given the profound injuries he caused, including punching the baby with a closed fist,” Judge Alycia Sykora told Fry in court.

Doyle said a psychological exam of Medley found he showed remorse and sympathy for his son and was receptive to undergoing treatment, The Bulletin reported

“It was a crucible,” Doyle said. “The (psychological) report showed that Mr. Medley had some struggles with coping skills. He’s got some learned behaviors that almost mimic cognitive defects.”

The child’s mother spoke to the court by phone and asked Sykora for leniency, The Bulletin reported.

“He gets very excited to see his dad,” she said.

Medley appeared by video from jail, The Bulletin reported.

“I just want to say how remorseful I am. I know there is no excuse for it,” Medley told the court. “I just want to do whatever it takes.”

Cox Media Group