Father Charged In Baby Assault
By DOMENICK RAFTER
An Ozone Park man has been charged with brutally beating his infant daughter, leaving the baby hospitalized with serious injuries.Juan Gomez, 23, of 104-01 Liberty Ave., Ozone Park, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on first and second degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child for the assault of his daughter, Hailey Gomez, who was taken to Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park 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 to the right leg, 17 fractured ribs, a lacerated liver and difficulty breathing due to disruption to the lining of the lung.
"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," said Queens DA Richard Brown. "That they were allegedly committed by her father boggles the mind."
According to statements to police and prosecutors, it is alleged that toward the end of January, while he was alone with Hailey, Gomez became frustrated because she would not stop crying. He then allegedly bit her on the right leg, leaving a bite mark. To conceal what he had done, Gomez allegedly bathed the baby by himself for the following week so nobody could see the bite mark.
Gomez said that he would grab his daughter by the feet and ankles and push her legs until the feet and ankles were bent back onto her chest, that he head-butted the baby in her head hard enough that his head piercings caused bruising to her head, and that he would throw his daughter up in the air and catch her by placing his hands over her rib cage.
If convicted, Gomez could spend up to 15 years in prison.
Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queentribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.