Man charged with breaking one-month-old daughter's legs
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Nick Montes reports. Video by wtmj.com
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RACINE - Prosecutors say an infant's father brutally abused her by breaking both of her legs.
The infant's mother told TODAY'S TMJ4's Nick Montes that the girl is doing a lot better, but is still in the hospital.
Shavontae Daniels faces a charge of abusing and breaking his one-month-old daughter's legs. He faces up to five years in prison if he is convicted.
The accusation is a surprise to some who know him.
"I don't know what triggered him," said Ernest Munday, who lives in the neighborhood. "An easy-going fellow to me."
Munday had no concerns about letting Daniels interact with his own daughter.
"He seemed like a nice fellow, like he was so happy."
The criminal complaint tells a different story.
The girl was in Daniels' care on Thursday, while her mother was away.
The criminal complaint says that when she came back, she saw something wrong with her daughter's legs and called 9-1-1.
According to the complaint, the girl may have a skull fracture, with injuries showing significant violent force.
Daniels told police that he was carrying the girl and fell on her.
He admitted to the injuries and that he should have gotten her help sooner. He apologized as well.
"I don't want to worry about him messing with my child," said Munday. "I don't think he's going to be cleared."
Daniels was to return to a court in Racine next week.
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