EVERETT — A teenage father admitted Wednesday that he was responsible for severely injuring his infant daughter last year.
Doctors discovered that the girl, then 5 weeks old, had a fractured skull, two broken ribs and bleeding and swelling to her brain. At the time, it was predicted that the girl likely would suffer from permanent brain damage and vision impairment.
Tyler Washington, 19, was arrested after doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital concluded that the girl’s injuries were consistent with abuse.
Washington initially denied hurting his child. He later admitted to detectives that he shook the baby after she wouldn’t stop crying and fussing, court papers said.
Washington pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree assault of a child. He also agreed that the crime was committed against a particularly vulnerable victim. That admission means Washington could be sentenced beyond the standard range, which is 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years.
Prosecutors plan to recommend a five-year term as part of the plea agreement. A judge, however, can send Washington to prison for up to a decade. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
An update on the girl’s condition wasn’t immediately available.
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