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A North Logan man has admitted fatally injuring his 4-month-old son and — as part of his plea deal — will re-create the crime to help medical experts better understand the physical mechanisms of child abuse.
Francisco Javier Martinez, 37, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of second-degree felony child abuse homicide for the November 2009 death of Jesus Yandel Martinez.
The father faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced April 19 by 1st District Judge Kevin Allen.
Martinez was initially charged with the more serious crime of first-degree felony child abuse homicide, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison. He also was charged with two counts of intentionally inflicting physical harm on a child. Those counts were dismissed in exchange for Martinez's guilty plea.
Defense attorney James J. Lee said Wednesday the resolution of the case was "fair."
Lee added that the re-creation of the abuse, which will be videotaped using a special doll designed to measure shaking and impact forces, will contribute to medical science and also help with his client's "healing process."
During Tuesday's plea hearing, prosecutors told the judge that Martinez has described three separate events in 2009 that resulted in injury to the infant.
• In October, Martinez fractured the baby's leg by grabbing him and pulling him across a bed.
• In mid-November, he held the boy's torso with sufficient pressure to fracture two ribs.
• On Nov. 18, the father held the child upside down by his abdomen and twice slammed the baby's head into his lap.
The infant stopped breathing soon after the slamming episode, and Martinez called 911. The child, who suffered brain injuries, was pronounced dead four days later at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.