"Baby John Doe" - 13 Months - Muskogee OK

A Muskogee man is expected to be charged today with child abuse after a
baby boy was admitted to a Tulsa hospital in critical condition.
Formal charges were being typed late Wednesday against William Herbert
Shamblin, 27, said Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Crieg Rittenhouse.



The 13-month-old is in treatment at an undisclosed Tulsa hospital.
Police have not released the name of the child.
Shamblin is being held without bond in the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility.
Police Lt. Bobby Lee said Shamblin told investigators he was
playing with the boy when the infant was injured.
“It’s hard to see a child getting injuries like this from playing,” Lee said.
Rittenhouse said a staff doctor said the child suffered from a subdural
hematoma (blood on the brain), the basis of which appears to be
consistent with child abuse.
“The family is claiming some genetic problem,” Rittenhouse said. “The
doctor said bruising on the legs also appears consistent with child abuse.”
Shamblin is scheduled for a bond hearing at 3 p.m. today
before Special District Judge Robin Adair, Rittenhouse said.
Muskogee Regional Medical Center called police after the child’s mother
and her boyfriend, Shamblin, took the child to the hospital Tuesday
night, Lee said. The injuries occurred at Shamblin’s house on Jefferson Street, police said.
Shamblin told police he was the only person with the infant when the injuries occurred, Lee said.
The baby has been in critical condition since being admitted to the Tulsa hospital, Rittenhouse said.

The attorney for a Muskogee man charged Thursday with felony child abuse by injury said his client is guilty of no wrongdoing.

William Herbert Shamblin, 27, is charged with injuring his girlfriend’s
13-month-old baby, who is in critical condition in a Tulsa Hospital,
said Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Crieg Rittenhouse.

Shamblin’s attorney, Eric Jones, said Shamblin is “completely innocent,
has never been in trouble — and we’re going to fight this thing tooth
and nail.

“It was just a rush to judgment.”

Shamblin had been jailed without bond since Tuesday. In a 3 p.m.
hearing, bond was set at $100,000, which Shamblin was in the process of
posting at 6 p.m. Prosecutors had requested a $250,000 bond.

If convicted, Shamblin faces a sentence of up to a year in the county
jail and/or a fine between $500 and $5,000, the filing states.

Police Lt. Bobby Lee said Shamblin told investigators he was playing
with the baby when the infant was injured. He said he and the baby were
the only ones present in his home when the accident occurred.

Shamblin told investigators he threw the baby up in the air and its head hit the ceiling, Lee said.

He also told investigators the infant cried and he continued throwing
the baby up in hopes of calming the infant. Lee said Shamblin said when
the baby was coming down again, the baby hit a door jamb.

A hospital staff doctor said the injuries are consistent with child
abuse, Rittenhouse said. He also said the baby suffered a subdural
hematoma (blood on the brain). The baby is improving but remains listed
as critical, Rittenhouse said.

Shamblin had not posted bond by late afternoon.

Poster's Note: Comment from Jana on another blog. My sentiments exactly!

His lawyer says he'll fight the charges on this scumbag 'tooth and
nail'..I wonder how the lawyer would feel if it was HIS defenseless baby
that was abused?? What kind of MORON throws a baby up in the air and
hits it's head on the ceiling and continues until it hits it's head
AGAIN??? I hope he gets the MAX sentence..and as for his lawyer..he's a
(xxx) too for defending this jerk!!
(This comment has been edited.)