BELIEVE IT OR NOT, POLICE SAY A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD SAN ANTONIO FATHER CONFESSED TO PRESSING HIS FOREARM ONTO HIS CRYING FOUR-WEEK-OLD SON UNTIL THE INFANT GASPED FOR AIR, LEAVING THE BABY WITH MULTIPLE BONE FRACTURES BEFORE THE SUSPECT POSTED A ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
On August 31, police arrested 19-year-old Aaron Espinoza in San Antonio.
Authorities took the young father into custody in connection with serious bodily injuries inflicted on his four-week-old son.
According to police, the newborn infant sustained multiple severe skeletal injuries and visible trauma.
The four-week-old boy had suffered a spiral fracture to his left arm.
The infant had also sustained two broken ribs.
A medical evaluation revealed that the child had a fractured left tibia.
In addition to the multiple broken bones, the infant was covered in bruising.
Child-abuse specialists who evaluated the injuries spoke directly with investigators.
The specialists explained that the baby boy’s arm fracture required an application of twisting force.
They told detectives that the two fractured ribs matched direct compression applied to the chest.
The medical experts added that the fractured tibia matched forceful pulling or yanking.
Police say the injuries occurred on August 22 inside the family’s home on Birchwood Drive.
According to investigators, the harm was inflicted while the infant’s mother was taking a shower.
Both parents subsequently brought the four-week-old child to CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital for medical care.
Medical staff members at the hospital discovered the baby’s extensive injuries during their examination.
On August 23, hospital staff contacted law enforcement authorities to report the infant’s condition.
Investigators then questioned Espinoza regarding how his newborn son had been harmed.
Espinoza initially told investigators that the baby’s arm had become caught inside the sleeve of a onesie.
He claimed to detectives that he heard a pop while pulling the baby’s arm free from the clothing.
Then his account shifted during a conversation with state child-welfare authorities.
According to an arrest affidavit, Espinoza later spoke with an investigator from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
He told the state caseworker that the baby’s crying had bothered him while he was under stress.
According to the affidavit, Espinoza admitted that he had injured the baby.
The affidavit says Espinoza admitted pressing his forearm down on the crying four-week-old.
He stated that he kept pressing his forearm down until the infant gasped for air.
Police say Espinoza subsequently repeated what he had done in the presence of the baby’s mother.
Detectives scheduled another formal interview with Espinoza to follow up on the investigation.
But Espinoza allegedly failed to appear for the scheduled appointment.
Police said the father ceased all communication with the investigating detectives.
Law enforcement officers then obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Authorities booked Espinoza on a first-degree felony charge of injury to a child.
A judge set his bond at $150,000.
Espinoza later posted the $150,000 bond amount.
He subsequently left the jail facility under monitored release.
Court records show his release conditions include partial house arrest.
Espinoza is also subject to active GPS monitoring.
In addition, the court ordered a prohibition that bans him from possessing firearms.
The charge against him remains an allegation.
Espinoza has not been convicted.
He faced initial questioning.
He ceased communicating with detectives.
He now awaits further legal proceedings while under monitoring.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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