A Bradford man who failed to get prompt medical help when his infant child suffered serious injuries was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court.
Jonathan J. Burke, 25, received his sentence before President Judge John Pavlock.
In February, Burke pleaded guilty to a felony charge of endangering the welfare of children.
He entered the plea to allegations that around Dec. 17, 2018, the mother of Burke’s 3-month-old child, Alana Dinch, threw a chair at him. The chair bounced off him and struck the infant in the head. The baby suffered head and face injuries, and “her head was described as ‘squishy.’”
Despite the injuries, it wasn’t until Dec. 19 that Burke notified another person of the injuries, and he and the other person took the baby to the hospital.
While the baby suffered injuries at the hands of her mother on at least three occasions between Dec. 5 and 19 in 2018, Burke entered a plea to allegations that he was only aware of the injuries the baby suffered when she was hit with the chair.
Burke will serve six to 23 ½ months in McKean County Jail with credit for 14 days of time served. He will also undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.
Burke will only have contact with the victim as set in dependency orders.
Dinch is serving a term of three to six years in state prison for the assaults.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer explained on Thursday that failing to get timely medical care was a “critical failure” on Burke’s part due to the baby’s age and the seriousness of the injuries.
In his own comments, Christopher Martini, the St. Marys attorney who represents Burke, said Burke “is accepting responsibility” and wishes to change his behavior. Martini noted that Burke has no criminal record or supervision history.
According to Martini, Burke has taken numerous childcare sessions since he was charged and “has been able to implement and use the skills he’s learned to become a better parent.”
Martini called Burke “a loving father” and “appropriate caregiver” and explained that “partaking in services allowed him to understand certain errors he’s made in parenting in the past” so he doesn’t do the same in the future.
Speaking on his own behalf, Burke said he has custody of his son, who will be 3 years old next month.
“We have a very special bond,” he said.
Burke is only allowed supervised contact with his daughter — the victim — but said, “I’m working hard to get my daughter back.”
He told Pavlock, “I do accept any punishment you give me today but deeply appreciate if you give me probation or house arrest so I can get back home to my son.”
Burke added, “I can never forgive myself for what happened to my daughter.” He noted there were “numerous” hints he should have caught to indicate that she was hurt.
In giving his own thoughts before sentencing, Pavlock said there was no indication that Burke caused any of his daughter’s injuries, though he didn’t seek treatment when he knew she was hurt.
