BRYSON "Doe" - 3 Months/ Accused: Andrew Valdez - Kent/ Grand Rapids MI

A Kent County man accused of beating his girlfriend's infant son is out of jail now and says he didn't do it.

Andrew Valdez was just released on $10,000 bond. He's charged with
second-degree child abuse as well as being a habitual offender.

Police believe Valdez injured his girlfriend's three-month-old boy named Bryson.

It happened at York Creek Apartments last week. When Bryson was taken to
the hospital doctors discovered he had 14 broken bones including his ribs, arms and legs.

Valdez says he had nothing to do with it and that the child was actually injured two days before he went to the hospital.

Valdez also says he doesn't understand why the baby's mother didn't realize something was wrong with her son earlier.

We also spoke with the baby's mother by phone. She says she's not talking to anyone until she can consult a lawyer.
http://www.wwmt.com/news/says-1397483-valdez-son.html

Another child has been removed from the home of a woman whose
three-month-old baby was the victim of alleged child abuse last weekend.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office says the child was taken from the woman's home at York Creek Apartments in Alpine Township.

Police believe Andrew Valdez, who lived with his girlfriend, injured her baby, Bryson.

Young Bryson was taken to the hospital last week where doctors discovered he had fourteen broken bones.

Valdez admitted that he forcefully removed the child from a car seat, but says he didn't hurt him.

Valdez is being charged with second degree child abuse.
http://www.wwmt.com/articles/home-1397569-suffered-infant.html

Prosecutors upgrade charges against man accused of breaking baby's bones
Published: Monday, November 07, 2011, 3:44 PM

GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP -- Prosecutors today said a 24-year-old man accused of breaking multiple bones in his girlfriend's baby will face upgraded charges of first-degree child abuse.
Andrew Pedro Valdez today was in court for a scheduled probable cause hearing, but decided to waive the hearing to negotiate a possible plea agreement with prosecutors.
Until today, Valdez was facing a charge of second-degree child abuse and was free on a $10,000 bond.
Now, he is charged with first-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse and also misdemeanor domestic violence against the boy's mother.
Judge Sara Smolenski increased his bond to $100,000 and he was immediately taken into custody.
Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Bramble said part of the reason for adding the first-degree charge was that evidence showed signs of healing fractures in the 3-month-old boy, possibly from earlier injuries.
Bramble said that when the boy was taken to DeVos Children's Hospital on Oct. 20, doctors "stopped counting at 13 fractures that occurred."
"We (earlier) weren't aware of the severity of the injuries to this child," he said.
Detectives earlier said the infant had suffered a broken arm, leg and multiple rib fractures.
Smolenski talked about the injuries, calling them "sickening and horrific," before she decided to increase Valdez's bond.
Kent County sheriff's detectives said Valdez has admitted to forcefully removing the child from a car seat. He also admitted to being angry with his then-girlfriend for making him get the baby ready.
Valdez is not the father of the injured child, but he does have two children, ages 4 and 3.
Supporters for both Valdez and the mother were in the courtroom today. None wanted to comment after today's brief hearing.
Court records show the alleged instance of domestic violence happened on Oct. 19 and, according to Valdez's attorney, Damien Nunzio, is purportedly in connection with the alleged child abuse.
Valdez also has a previous domestic violence conviction from 2009.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/11/prosecutors_upgrade_charges_ag.html

Andrew Valdez, accused of breaking more than a dozen bones in an
infant's body, will stand trial on more serious charges after he waived
his preliminary exam in a Kent County courtroom Monday.

While
Valdez denies the abuse allegations, "it's probably one of the worst
child abuse cases I've seen in a long time," said Kent County
Undersheriff Jon Hess in an earlier statement to 24 Hour News 8.

The
charges against Valdez were increased to first- and second-degree child
abuse, and if convicted, the 24-year-old faces up to 22.5 years in
prison.

Shortly before the alleged abuse, Valdez was arrested for domestic abuse against the mother of the 3-month-old child, Bryson.

A court document of the child abuse paints a different picture than what Valdez told 24 Hour News 8.
It says Valdez and his ex-girlfriend -- the boy's mother -- were
arguing at her apartment in Alpine Township. Valdez told the Kent County
Sheriff's Department that he was "forceful" when he removed the child
from his car seat, and he became "upset" with the child, according to
the document. The report said Valdez grabbed the baby's arm, chest and
leg, and that the baby started crying.

His bond was increased to $100,000. His attorney, Damian Nunzio, said they are conducting their own investigation into the case.
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Andrew-Valdez-court-hearing-November-7-2011