Jonesboro Father Faces Felony Charge After Infant Suffers Severe Brain Injury

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro father is facing a felony battery charge after police say a two-month-old baby in his care was severely injured.

On May 16, the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Division was notified of a two-month-old baby who had been flown to Little Rock with a brain bleed. CACD investigators from Little Rock responded to the hospital, making contact with the doctors and the child. The doctors said he had an acute subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage of the brain, with some injuries newer and some older. He also had a bruise to his jawbone and his abdomen.

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Little Rock investigators spoke to the father, Michael Robinson, 23, of Jonesboro. Robinson stated that the baby had woken up, and he was bouncing the baby on his lap. While bouncing and patting the child, the father said the baby let out a loud screech and spit up, then began having a hard time breathing.

Later in the interview, Robinson said he probably bounced the baby too hard and shook him too hard. He also stated he had been stressed and was very tired and couldn’t remember how hard he was shaking and patting him.

When asked about the bruise on the baby’s chin, Robinson reportedly said he was holding him by his face while trying to burp him and probably squeezed too hard. Robinson said he was alone with the baby.

An arrest warrant was signed by Judge David Boling. Later in the morning, investigators went to the DHS office, where they knew Robinson had a meeting, and arrested him for first-degree domestic battering, a Class B felony punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison.

After being read his Miranda rights, Robinson told police he did shake and bounce the baby too hard and demonstrated how the baby’s little head was bouncing around, the affidavit said.

Robinson appeared before Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler on Wednesday for his bond hearing. The judge set bail at $150,000 cash or surety, also ordering no contact with the child. Family members told the judge the child was still in the hospital.

His next court date is June 27.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-482-5964.