KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — A Kalamazoo mom who was charged after failing to report abuse against her infant son was sentenced Monday.
Norene Burkhead pleaded guilty to fourth-degree child abuse in June. She will spend one day in prison with a credit for one day served, and pay $1,135 in fines and court fees.
Burkhead was charged after investigators found the baby's father, Paul Preston, had been physically abusing him.
Preston went on to plead guilty to two charges of first-degree child abuse. He was sentenced Monday to a minimum of five years in prison with credit for 405 days served.
The investigation began on May 23, 2023, when Burkhead took the child to Bronson Hospital.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with Burkhead shortly after the child was hospitalized and before she was charged.
"It was his dad. I thought he'd be safe," Burkhead said at the time.
She told us her child suffered a fractured skull with brain bleeding, a broken arm and leg, and bruised and fractured ribs. She said Preston claimed he tripped and fell while walking with the baby.
A doctor said that Preston seemed to provide explanations that each injury was caused accidentally. Preston talked about an incident where the baby hit his face against him and his nose bled, and Preston had to wipe it.
The doctor noted the injuries were in different stages of healing, indicating the serious injuries were sustained at different times.
According to court documents, Preston later admitted to investigators he punched or struck his child in the head four separate times. He would sometimes grip his baby's head with both hands and squeeze, hold his sides and squeeze him, throw him on a bed, and throw him into the air and catch him, court documents detailed.
Police said Preston admitted the violent acts started when the baby was just three weeks old.
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