Greene Co. parents charged with abuse
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg Borough couple was jailed Thursday on charges of allegedly abusing of their 2-year-old son from April to December 2014.
Police brought charges against Brandon Litten, 22, and Nikia Harris, 23, of 798 E. Greene St.
Litten admitted holding his son by his head on multiple occasions and swinging him between his legs, repeatedly poking him hard in the face and body and pushing his face into a pillow out of frustration and anger when the child would not cooperate at bedtime, according to a criminal complaint.
Waynesburg Borough Police responded to Sunoco Service Station on East Greene Street Dec. 16 when Harris’ father placed a 911 call. During an arranged visit with Harris’ stepfather, Harris’ father said the baby had cuts and bruises. The names of Harris’ father and stepfather were redacted in the criminal complaint.
“Patrolman (Marcus) Simms and I met with the baby’s grandfather who explained that the child’s parents always left bruises on the baby and that he was not going to let it happen anymore,” said Waynesburg Borough Police Officer Lisa Sowden. “Upon observing the baby (at the gas station), I could see there were multiple bruises, scratches and fingernail marks all over his face.”
Sowden said the boy had a “remarkable gash” about two inches long starting at the corner of his mouth and his right leg was in a cast. She alerted Greene County Children and Youth Services and 911 of his condition and the boy was transported to the borough police station. He was examined by a CYS caseworker and EMS personnel at the station.
Sowden said additional bruising was found over the child’s body, including a hand-shaped bruise indicative of a squeeze or grab. Based upon his overall injuries, the toddler was transported by EMS personnel to Southwest Regional Medical Center for further examination.
At the hospital, Harris allegedly told Sowden the broken leg occurred when the 2-year old fell off a picnic table while visiting Litten’s parents. However, hospital records indicated the family told doctors the spiral fracture was caused by a fall from a bed.
Explaining the gash to the youngster’s face, Harris said Litten told her it was caused by a vaporizer cord, but she did not elaborate, according to Sowden. Harris said she was not home when this occurred but a caseworker, who was working with the family prior to police involvement Dec. 16, said this was not true. The caseworker told Sowden both Litten and Harris were home Dec. 15 when she visited their home and the same day informed CYS of the child’s injuries, according to the complaint.
As for the bruises to his face, Sowden said Harris told her she would sometimes squeeze her son’s face when she kissed him, even though she was aware it left bruises.
Harris’ mother and stepfather told Sowden the child’s odd bruising and frequent hospital visits had occurred since April 2014. They noted seeing bruising around his jaw line and both inside and below his ears in April.
Hospital records indicated the baby was seen at that time for ear pain related to a fall, Sowden said. However, she noted the bruising was consistent where Litten said he placed his hands on the boy’s head when he swung him. Litten is charged with aggravated assault, three counts of endangering the welfare of children, three counts of simple assault, eight counts of recklessly endangering another personand eight counts of harassment.
Harris is charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, giving a false statement and two counts of harassment.
Litten is being held on $50,000 and Harris $15,000 straight cash bonds, respectively.
Preliminary hearings for the pair are scheduled at 11 a.m. Jan. 29 before Dayich.