Milwaukee, WI- Jalin White, 18, faces serious charges of felony child abuse and neglect after prosecutors allege he threw a baby against a wall earlier this week.
White appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, as prosecutors outlined the allegations of abuse.
“This is a severe level of violence for an innocent, infant child,” said ADA Madeline Witte, prosecuting the case.
Authorities in Milwaukee reported that the infant is only 8 months old.
The MPD reported that the incident occurred on Tuesday close to 42nd Street and Good Hope Road, the residence of White according to court documents.
On Saturday, prosecutors in court revealed that White admitted to throwing the baby against a wall, though they did not disclose the circumstances surrounding the abuse.
“Your statement (was) he hit the wall hard. You heard the bang of the wall,” Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Andrea Bolender said.
Police report that the 8-month-old was hospitalized due to life-threatening injuries from abuse. Medical experts have indicated that the child may have experienced repeated abuse.
“Which have multiple injuries indicating that the victim had been abused multiple ways over a period of time,” Witte said.
Prosecutors did not clarify the paternity of the baby, but White appeared visibly upset in court, shaking his head and wiping away tears.
“The medical personnel have indicated that, sadly, this child is not expected to live,” Bolender said. “Which would increase these charges to a homicide.”
Court officials indicated that White may be looking at a sentence of 62-and-a-half years if found guilty, but if the baby does not survive, the charges and possible sentencing could be altered and upgraded.