Bone pleads guilty in child abuse case
KINGMAN – A young Kingman man admits harming his girlfriend’s infant while babysitting in late January. Anthony Bone, 24, pleaded guilty to child abuse Tuesday, Feb. 28 while also admitting the offense represents violation of his probation for a previous aggravated assault conviction.
A Mohave County Sheriff’s Office investigation began Feb. 2 when the 22-year-old mother contacted the agency after discovering her daughter had suffered severe bruising. Spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said she reported finding the injuries after Bone called and said that she needed to pick up her baby.
“The victim was four months old. The victim was in the care and custody of the defendant, the boyfriend of the victim’s mother,” said deputy Mohave County attorney Jacob Cote, during the change of plea hearing. “The defendant admitted that he `popped’ the victim in order for her to stop crying.”
Mortensen said that the victim, a three-year-old sibling and the mother were placed in safe shelter by the Department of Child Services following Bone’s arrest.
Judge Doug Camacho explained that Bone could be required to pay any restitution and will be prohibited from future contact with the family. Punishment parameters for a March 30 sentencing hearing range from potential probation reinstatement up to six years in prison.
Dave Hawkins
