NICHOLAS JOHNSON - 2 Months/ Accused: George Peters - Colorado Springs CO

A Colorado Springs man has been jailed on suspicion of first-degree
murder in the death Saturday of a 2-month-old boy who he was watching, police said.



George Peters, 23, was arrested Feb. 10 on suspicion of child abuse
after officers were called to an apartment in the 3900 block of Patrick
Drive in southeast Colorado Springs to investigate a report of an
unconscious child who was not breathing.
The boy was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of Memorial
Hospital, where he died Saturday when he was taken off life support, police said.
Police did not say if the infant had been injured.
Peters' wife, Sam Peters, said her husband was also baby-sitting her
child the day the 2-month-old was taken to the hospital. She said George
Peters was in the military but did not say which branch and declined further comment.
Peters is in the El Paso County jail. His initial bond was set at
$250,000, but typically first-degree murder charges carry a no-bond hold.
If the El Paso County Coroner's Office rules the death a homicide,
it would be the third in Colorado Springs this year. At this time last year, there were two homicides in Colorado Springs.
Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/boy-113200-month-death.html#ixzz1Ef0eCUs7

Man Arrested In Baby's Death Couldn't Handle Crying
Former Solider Was Baby-Sitting Two Infants

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The former Fort Carson soldier arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder admitted he could not take a baby's crying, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by 7NEWS.

George Peters was baby-sitting 2-month-old Nicholas Johnson and his own 2-month-old, Gabriel Peters, on Feb. 10 when Johnson stopped breathing.

Peters was arrested the next day on suspicion of felony child abuse. The charges were changed to first-degree murder when the baby was taken off life support and died Feb. 19.

Mrs. Peters told police she came home Feb. 10 between noon and 12:30 p.m. to sign a new lease with her husband. She said she saw Johnson during that time and he appeared fine.

George Peters was home alone with the two infants between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Peters told police he had been holding Johnson and bouncing him up and down because Johnson was crying, according to the arrest affidavit.

Peters told detectives, on a scale of one to 10, he was bouncing the baby at a 6 1/2 to seven.

At 2:30 p.m., Peters went to a neighbors to get help because Johnson wasn't breathing. The neighbor did CPR on the baby, then called 911.

At the hospital, doctors said Johnson had multiple brain bleeds and hematomas. A doctor told police that the injuries would have occurred within hours and were highly suspicious for abuse, according to the affidavit.

While Peters was at the hospital with the baby, a neighbor took care of Peter's son. When she changed the baby's diaper in front of police, officers said they found Gabriel had bruising on his upper thighs, lower back and buttocks area, according to the arrest affidavit. The baby was taken into protective custody and taken to the hospital.

Peters later told officers he spanked Gabriel when he "gets out of line," according to the affidavit.

Peters also told officers he has been using heroin and smoking marijuana more often to try to stay off heroin.

Peters is in the El Paso County Jail. He is being held without bond.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26980173/detail.html

Poster's Comment -
...Seriously, what kind of person spanks a 2-month-old for believing they are 'out-of-line'?
This guy should have never been left to watch children.

Ex-soldier convicted of child abuse in baby death
Published 05:45 p.m., Monday, October 3, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A former Fort Carson soldier accused in the death of a friend's 2-month-old son has been acquitted of first-degree murder but convicted of child abuse.

Jurors in Colorado Springs convicted 24-year-old George Peters on Monday of child abuse resulting in the death of Nicholas Johnson. He also was convicted of three counts of child abuse against his own son.

Prosecutors say Peters could face up to 80 years in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 5.

Prosecutors allege Peters was a heroin addict who used force to quiet Nicholas Johnson's crying while babysitting him in February. An autopsy determined Nicholas suffered brain injuries like those caused by shaking babies.

Defense attorneys had argued Nicholas had an undiagnosed brain condition that made him susceptible to injuries.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Ex-soldier-convicted-of-child-abuse-in-baby-death-2200820.php