Teen father sentenced for abusing 7-week-old son

A teenage father who abused his 7-week-old son, at times squeezing the baby when he became fussy, has been sentenced to nearly 1 1/2 years in prison.

Bradley Gloyd, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday in Clark County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree domestic violence assault and one count of second-degree criminal mistreatment, court records show.

The baby, named Brenden, suffered fractures to his skull, shoulder and arm, and rib, all to the right side of his body, and fractures to both of his lower legs. Most of the injuries were in various stages of healing, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called the night of July 24 to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center for a possible child abuse investigation. Brenden and both of his parents were there with Child Protective Services. Both Gloyd and his fiancée denied knowing anything about the baby’s injuries, the affidavit states.

Doctors determined that Brenden was injured on at least two occasions and that the cause was blunt-force trauma, court records say.

Gloyd later admitted to setting the baby down too hard at times and hugging him tight when he became frustrated with his crying. Once when he was changing Brenden, the baby started urinating on him, he said, so he grabbed his ankles and yanked him closer. At other times, he plopped the baby down on the bed, causing him to bounce and smack the headboard, Gloyd said, or tossed his bottle on the bed, striking the baby, according to court documents.

Gloyd said he didn’t intend to hurt the child.

Judge John Fairgrieve sentenced Gloyd to 17 months in prison, but he was given 255 days credit for time already served.