SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man has been charged with injury to a child after his 4-week-old infant was hospitalized with multiple fractures and bruising, according to court documents.
Aaron Espinoza, 19, is charged with injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury.
On August 23, police were called to CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital after hospital staff identified unexplained injuries on the child. The child had a spiral fracture to the left arm, fractures to two ribs, a fracture to the left tibia and bruising to the upper arm, investigators said. The injuries reportedly occurred at a home in the 200 block of Birchwood Drive.
Espinoza initially told investigators the infant’s arm became caught in a onesie sleeve while he was changing the child’s clothing. He said he heard a popping sound as he pulled the arm free, according to the affidavit.
However, child abuse pediatric specialists concluded the injuries were non-accidental. Investigators said the arm fracture required twisting force, while the rib fractures were consistent with chest compression and the leg fracture was caused by forceful pulling or yanking.
According to the affidavit, Espinoza later told a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigator that he was stressed by the infant’s crying and intentionally placed his forearm on the child’s torso, applying downward pressure to quiet the baby.
Espinoza told investigators the child began gasping for air immediately afterward and that he knew something was wrong.
Espinoza later failed to attend a scheduled police interview and stopped cooperating with investigators, the affidavit states.
He is currently being held in the Bexar County Jail on a $150,000 bond, according to jail records.