A Tyler man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday morning for striking his child in the head with his fist and causing skull fractures, while fighting with the child's mother.
Lasabien Ford, 26, pleaded guilty to injury to a child and assault of a peace officer charges in the 475th District Court. His charges for aggravated assault of a family member and obstruction were dismissed, but considered in his punishment, according to court officials.
After his plea, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the injury to a child and assault of a peace officer offenses. Those sentences will be served at the same time.
An arrest affidavit shows the mother of the infant had taken the child to Ford's home while she went to a job interview. When she returned to the home, Ford became angry that she was leaving, saying "why you leavin'?" and "you're taking my (child) away."
The woman told police when picked the baby up, Ford slapped her on the face with an open hand and pushed her down onto the bed while holding the child, the affidavit said.
According to the document, Ford started striking the mother of his child with closed fists and choked her to the point to where she couldn't breathe. She tried to fight him off by kicking, but Ford kept swinging at her.
During this time, he struck the infant in the head, which caused the baby to start screaming. Ford also bit the woman on the arm and leg while she was holding their child the entire time, the affidavit said.
She yelled at Ford that she was going to call the police and he stopped and walked away, which allowed her to get away, the document explained.
The infant was diagnosed with a skull fracture upon further examination. The child had to be taken to a children's hospital in Dallas, the affidavit read.