A Lancaster County couple is behind bars after their four-month-old son was rushed to UPMC Lititz on April 22 with injuries that medical staff said did not look accidental. According to hospital personnel, the infant had a cut lip, a torn upper frenulum, and dark bruises and abrasions across his body. Both parents have been criminally charged and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Detectives with the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department were called in after staff at UPMC Lititz flagged the injuries, Tampa Free Press reports. In a public statement, police described the wounds as a “lip laceration, ecchymosis, and a laceration of the upper frenulum,” and noted additional bruises and abrasions over the child’s body. Officials say the infant was brought to the hospital on April 22.
As detailed by Law&Crime, the child’s mother, 26-year-old Jessica Oster, first told investigators she fed the baby and left him alone. She later admitted she “used too much force when placing a bottle into the baby’s mouth,” according to police. Investigators say the father, James Oster, told detectives he grabbed the infant’s head and pulled it backward while the baby was face down in bathwater, claiming he panicked when the child’s face went under the water.
Home Conditions And Evidence
When officers searched the couple’s home, they reported a strong smell of urine and found a bouncy-seat cushion soaked with old stains, according to Tampa Free Press. Investigators say the parents admitted they often propped a bottle with a blanket and left the infant alone in the bouncy seat in another room. Those conditions, along with the medical findings, are cited in the criminal complaints filed against both parents.
Charges And Court Timeline
Charging documents summarized by Law&Crime state that Jessica Oster faces two counts of aggravated assault, as well as simple assault, endangering the welfare of children, and recklessly endangering another person. James Oster is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, and reckless endangerment. The couple remains in custody, and Lancaster County Children & Youth has been called in to handle custody and safety issues while the criminal case moves ahead.
Legal Context
Pennsylvania law allows aggravated assault that results in bodily injury to a child to be prosecuted as a serious felony. The statute is set out in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702. The offense of endangering the welfare of children is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304, which can be charged as a felony when the conduct creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
What’s Next
At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors will need to show a prima facie case for the charges. If the judge finds that standard is met, the matter can be bound over to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. The rules that govern preliminary hearings and case disposition are set out in the Pennsylvania Code, including Pa. Code, Ch. 5. In the meantime, Lancaster County Children & Youth is expected to continue overseeing the child’s immediate safety and custody arrangements while the criminal process unfolds.
