Pocono News Section

Man Faces Charges for Shaking Baby

Man Faces Charges for Shaking Baby - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 4:12PM EST

Jersey Shore, Lycoming County-
A Lycoming County man faces charges he violently shook his infant daughter to the point that she may never live a normal life.

The man- and his family- say it was all an accident.

Prosecutors say 26-year-old Marcus DeGarmo shook and slammed his six-month-old little girl at least half a dozen times in the past month.

Doctors have diagnosed her with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

DeGarmo’s brother, John Allen, said, “My brother is a good man. He would never do anything to intentionally hurt somebody. He would never hurt a fly.”

Prosecutors say the alleged abuse happened at a home in the Harvest Moon Mobile Home Park in Woodward Township.

We’re told the baby’s mother was not present when the abuse happened. She is not facing any charges.

According to court papers, Marcus DeGarmo admits shaking the baby on more than one occasion.

But his family maintains it was all an accident.

Allen said, “He’s a good person. He’s been around kids his whole life. Kids love him, he loves kids.”

Prosecutors disagree.

Lycoming County Assistant District Attorney Paul Petcavage explained, “The defendant may have been frustrated, angry, and took that out on a child that he didn’t have the capability to provide proper care for. But that’s not an excuse and it’s not a defense to the crime that was charged.”

If convicted, DeGarmo faces a minimum of five years in prison. Prosecutors say his daughter faces a lifetime of suffering.

Petcavage added, “She’ll probably not function normally the rest of her life. So it’s very hard in that regard. Some type of justice has to occur.”

We’re told the baby was being seen by a neurologist in Hershey while DeGarmo was in court Wednesday.

His family is holding onto hope that the charges could still be dropped.

Allen said, “Hopefully once they get the second opinion he’ll be able to get out and he and his girlfriend can go back to being a big, happy family.”

Marcus DeGarmo is locked up on $100,000 bail.