A Bellaire resident faces up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine after he allegedly struck his own 1-month-old child during an argument with the baby’s mother.
The mother called police on March 6 to report the father, 35-year-old Joshua Gonzalez, was drunk and had hit the baby girl. Assistant District Attorney Donna Hawkins said the mother reported Gonzalez was drunk when he arrived home to the 100 block of Whipple Drive. He wanted to hold the child, but the mother refused.
“He tried to strike her, but hit the baby in the head,” Hawkins said. “It doesn’t look like the baby was seriously hurt.”
The Bellaire Police Department dispatched six officers to the scene, and the first who arrived saw the mother emerge from a house in the 100 block of Whipple Drive with the baby.
After an investigation, officers arrested Gonzalez and charged him with reckless injury to a child. Hawkins said the charge is a state jail felony, which can bring six months to two years in state jail, and up to a $10,000 fine.
“Who he was aiming at and who he hit was irrelevant. His intent was to assault the wife, and it resulted in an injury to a child,” said Russell Brown, Bellaire police records manager.
The infant was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital, but did not have any internal injuries, according to the police report. Officers also contacted Child Protective Services about the incident. CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin confirmed the agency will investigate the family.
“What we do in these types of cases is follow up with making sure we reduce future risk, whether that means providing services to the family to reduce the risk or referring them to resources in the community,” Olguin said. “And following up to make sure the child will be safe or she gets the medical care she needs.”
Gonzalez’ next court appearance for his charge is scheduled for April 15.
