Posted: Jul 22, 2010 6:30 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Jul 22, 2010 6:31 AM
A Colorado man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the death of his 4-month-old baby, who had a skull fracture, bruising and bite marks on his face.
Twenty-seven-year-old Benjamin Koller of Lafayette wept at his sentencing Wednesday during a slide show of his son, Jack.
Koller and the baby's mother, Jennifer Schmidt, took the boy to the hospital last July. Doctors said the 7-week-old infant had widespread brain damage.
The baby was released from the hospital, but died in October. Schmidt wasn't charged in her son's death.
Koller originally faced a first-degree murder charge. He pleaded guilty in May to child abuse resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of 48 years.