Accused of beating infant

A 2-month-old Lodi infant is hospitalized with major head injuries, and her father is jailed on $650,000 bail after being accused of beating her, police said Tuesday.

The baby, who was flown by medical helicopter to a trauma center in critical condition, could have vision problems related to the injuries, Lodi Police Officer Dale Eubanks said. The child's condition was upgraded to stable later Tuesday, but doctors are still monitoring her brain and other injuries, Eubanks said.

Justin Beebe

The child's father, Justin Wayne Beebe, 20, was arrested Monday night at his south Lodi apartment. When a naked Beebe refused to leave a bedroom, officers opened the door far enough to send in a police dog, which "subdued" him, Eubanks said.

Beebe, a warehouse worker at a local retail store, is facing possible charges ranging from child abuse to violating a domestic violence order. Beebe is also accused of beating the child's mother when she tried to take the baby to the hospital.

The baby's mother had been home on maternity leave for two months, and there were no signs of prior abuse of the child, Eubanks said.

Monday was the mother's first day back at work, and she called home several times to check in, Eubanks said. During phone conversations, Beebe told her the baby wouldn't "shut up," Eubanks said, and the mother grew worried.

She got home, looked at the baby in an infant swing and noticed bruises. Beebe allegedly made several excuses for the injuries, and the mother decided to take the girl to the hospital.

Beebe got upset, saying police might be called, and he began beating and punching the mother to keep her from leaving, Eubanks said. The mother managed to get away and took the baby to Lodi Memorial Hospital, where police were called around 6:45 p.m.

Hospital workers soon called for a medical helicopter, and in the meantime, treated the mother for head and body injuries.

When police officers arrived at the hospital and looked at the baby girl, they saw "heavy bruising on her face, forehead, chest, back, left ankle and groin," according to a news release.

Officers took Beebe into custody Monday night where he was initially booked into jail on a little less than $82,000 bail, following a standard bail schedule. By Tuesday afternoon, they had convinced a judge to increase that amount to $650,000.

Though Monday's incident was the first indication of possible child abuse, Beebe has previously been convicted of battering the baby's mother.

In May 2007, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and resisting police, according to court records. He was fined $500, given a 30-day jail sentence and placed on three years of probation, with orders not to harass the baby's mother.

In November, Beebe pleaded no contest to violating the court order regarding harassing the mother. He was placed back on probation and fined $250.

Also that day, he pleaded no contest in an unrelated hit-and-run case.

He was fined $250 and ordered to spend 10 days in jail, which he agreed to do through the jail's alternative work project.

He never finished the work project, and in January a $10,000 warrant was issued for his arrest.

Beebe will appear in court Thursday on the warrant, as well as charges relating to Monday's abuse case.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

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" It's interesting how the issue of teachers' salaries could be brought into this discussion. I suppose any argument about virtually anything could emerge from something nowhere nearly related to it.

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As far as corrections officers are concerned, sure they also have a choice. And because their positions are inherently dangerous from the first day of work, providing an incentive in higher wages only makes sense, wouldn't one also think? "

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Accused of beating infant

Lodi father arrested and jailed on $650,000 bail; 2-month old stable, but may have vision problems

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