Heath man suspected of injuring infant: Jeremiah J. Gillespie, 19, was charged Monday with assault, a second-degree felony, after he reportedly seriously injured Gage Koonts, the infant he was babysitting.
HEATH -- A 4-month-old boy was in critical condition Monday at Children's Hospital with symptoms of shaken baby syndrome after his caretaker reportedly assaulted him twice, a Heath police sergeant said.
Jeremiah J. Gillespie, 19, was charged Monday with assault, a second-degree felony, after he was suspected of seriously injuring Gage Koonts, the infant he was baby-sitting.
The Heath Fire Department took Gage to Licking Memorial Hospital from Gillespie's apartment after he called 911 at 12:49 p.m. Friday.
"I have a baby here that has very troubled breathing," Gillespie told the 911 dispatcher.
The infant's eyes would not open and he was limp, Gillespie said.
From LMH, Gage was taken to Children's Hospital, where doctors determined bleeding on his brain was not the result of an accident, according to Licking County Municipal Court records.
Gillespie and Gage were alone in his apartment when the baby was injured, Licking County Prosecutor Ken Oswalt said. The mother was at work, he added.
Gillespie was interviewed by Heath police and gave a version of events, Oswalt said, declining to elaborate.
"I don't feel like I did anything," Gillespie said at a hearing Monday.
Gage was taken to LMH three days earlier because he was sick and vomiting, Heath Detective Sgt. Craig Black said.
Gage was diagnosed with the flu at the time, but detectives now believe the symptoms were caused by abuse, Black said.
Licking County Municipal Court Judge David Stansbury set bond at $500,000 and ordered Gillespie to have no contact with the infant or unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18. Police had requested a $250,000 bond.
The case then will be reviewed by a Licking County grand jury for possible indictment. Additional charges of child endangering are being considered.
Jeremiah J. Gillespie, 19, was charged Monday with assault, a second-degree felony, after he was suspected of seriously injuring Gage Koonts, the infant he was baby-sitting.
The Heath Fire Department took Gage to Licking Memorial Hospital from Gillespie's apartment after he called 911 at 12:49 p.m. Friday.
"I have a baby here that has very troubled breathing," Gillespie told the 911 dispatcher.
The infant's eyes would not open and he was limp, Gillespie said.
From LMH, Gage was taken to Children's Hospital, where doctors determined bleeding on his brain was not the result of an accident, according to Licking County Municipal Court records.
Gillespie and Gage were alone in his apartment when the baby was injured, Licking County Prosecutor Ken Oswalt said. The mother was at work, he added.
Gillespie was interviewed by Heath police and gave a version of events, Oswalt said, declining to elaborate.
"I don't feel like I did anything," Gillespie said at a hearing Monday.
Gage was taken to LMH three days earlier because he was sick and vomiting, Heath Detective Sgt. Craig Black said.
Gage was diagnosed with the flu at the time, but detectives now believe the symptoms were caused by abuse, Black said.
Licking County Municipal Court Judge David Stansbury set bond at $500,000 and ordered Gillespie to have no contact with the infant or unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18. Police had requested a $250,000 bond.
The case then will be reviewed by a Licking County grand jury for possible indictment. Additional charges of child endangering are being considered.
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