"Jane" HARTLEY - 8 months - Isabella MI

A 28-year-old Isabella County man is
jailed on a $1 million bond after being charged with trying to strangle
his 8-month-old daughter.

Wayne Allen Hartley was arraigned Wednesday on charges of assault with intent
to commit murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less
than murder, second-degree child abuse and aggravated domestic
violence. He could face up to life in prison on the attempted murder
charge.

The Isabella County Sheriff's Department says in a statement that Hartley's wife came home about 11
a.m. Tuesday and found her daughter bruised and sleeping in bed.
Hartley was arrested after the infant's mother took her to Central
Michigan Community Hospital in Mount Pleasant, 160 miles north of
Detroit.

A public defender will be appointed for Hartley.

The Morning Sun (themorningsun.com), Serving Northern Michigan


News

Isabella Twp. man accused of trying to strangle infant
Thursday, August 13, 2009 6:50 AM EDT

By MARK RANZENBERGER
Sun Online Editor

An Isabella Township man is in the Isabella County, accused of trying to strangle his 8-month-old daughter.

Wayne Allen Hartley, 28, is being held in lieu of $1 million cash bond.

“What is horrific about this crime is the age of the victim,” said Isabella County Trial Court Judge William Ervin during Hartley arraignment Wednesday afternoon. “I think the probability of flight is high in this case.”

Hartley is charged with assault with intent to commit murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, second-degree child abuse and aggravated domestic violence.

He could face up to life in prison on the attempted murder charge. The lesser assault charge carries a maximum 10-year penalty; the child abuse charge could bring four years in prison, and the domestic violence charge a year in jail.

Harley was arrested Tuesday after the child was brought to Central Michigan Community Hospital by her mother. According to a statement from the Isabella County Sheriff's Department, the mother found her daughter bruised and sleeping in bed.

According to the sheriff's department, the mother asked her husband what had happened to the baby - but didn't believe her husband's answer.

Hartley was arrested after investigators interviewed him

During the arraignment, conducted by video, Hartley slumped against the white, cement-block wall of the video booth at the Isabella County Jail. Dressed in a dark T-shirt and with a shaven head, Hartley repeatedly asked the judge “How much to get out?”

The defendant appeared close to tears when Ervin asked him if he understood the charges against him and the penalties conviction of those charges could bring.

“Yes,” Hartley replied in a shaky voice. The judge asked him if he had anything to say.

“I don’t know what to say,” Hartley said.

In setting the extremely high bond, Ervin said he had to “be particularly careful this thing doesn’t happen again.”

Ervin said Harley had a prior criminal record, including a felony conviction of cutting and tapping telephone lines in 2002, and a second-offense operating while intoxicated.

Hartley told the judge he had no assets to pay for an attorney.

“I don’t have no money,” Hartley said. A court public defender will be appointed for him.

The victim reportedly is recovering from her injuries.

URL: http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2009/08/13/news/doc4a83020d36a8f214449778.prt

© 2010 themorningsun.com, a Journal Register Property

MOUNT PLEASANT MAN SENT TO PRISON FOR STRANGLING INFANT

MOUNT PLEASANT — A 28-year-old Mount Pleasant man is sitting in prison for strangling his 8-month-old daughter in August.

Wayne A. Hartley was sentenced Monday to 14 to 22 1/2 years for first-degree child abuse and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, said Isabella County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Risa N. Scully.

Hartley was sentenced as a second-offense habitual offender, Scully said.

He pleaded no contest to the charges May 21. In exchange, prosecutor dropped charges of assault with intent to murder and aggravated domestic violence.

He is being held at the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson, state records show.

The infant was hospitalized for several days after the incident.
[b]

kath - thanks for the update - can you please include the link to the story when you post?

moving to adjudicated - so glad he is in prison