Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that 25 year-old James Brown of Trent Square in Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty, as charged to Reckless Assault of a Child (Penal Law 120.02-1) before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth M. Case. This is the highest charge for which Brown could have been convicted had he gone to trial. In other words, the defendant was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

On December 5, 2013, Brown, while babysitting, violently shook a 5 month-old infant for at least 10 minutes. The infant suffered bleeding to the brain, bleeding to both eyes, and lapsed into unconsciousness. When the child’s mother returned to pick her up her infant son, she noticed that something was wrong with him, despite the fact that Brown didn’t mention anything to her. The baby was then taken to Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo by ambulance and diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome.

Brown, who was released on bail, faces a maximum prison term of 7 years when he is sentenced on May 15, 2014 by Judge Case.  Assistant District Attorney Lynette Reda, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Special Victim’s Bureau, successfully prosecuted the case. DA Sedita also lauded the efforts of the Cheektowaga Police Department in investigating the case.