Weber County mother arrested on suspicion of child abuse; father also jailed

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OGDEN — A Weber County mother was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony child abuse involving her infant daughter. Meanwhile, the child’s father was arrested on suspicion of possessing/viewing child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, after investigators uncovered graphic imagery during their child abuse investigation.
According to an arrest document, the child’s mother — a 26-year-old woman from the West Weber area — brought her child to the hospital on June 23 due to swelling in the child’s head. Per the document, a hospital report indicated that the most likely cause of the child’s injuries was abusive head trauma or child physical abuse.
“There is a concern for abusive head trauma (AHT) based on the findings of subdural hemorrhages and thrombosis of the bridging veins in the absence of a significant head trauma,” the affidavit of probable cause read.
The mother reportedly told investigators that she had accidentally dropped the child on Father’s Day, after which the child’s head became swollen. The child was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City after “fluid (was) discovered between the brain and skull,” according to the affidavit, which noted the mother had “full custody, care and control” of the child at the time of the injury.
While the child was hospitalized, doctors reportedly discovered a prior brain bleed, likely occurring in late May, according to the arrest document. The mother has reportedly suffered from postpartum depression since the child’s birth and previously. She now faces two third-degree felony charges of reckless aggravated child abuse.
“(The mother’s) interview was concerning but (she) did not admit to intentionally hurting (the child),” the affidavit read. “Based on the timelines and facts presented by the medical records and statements provided by (the mother), it is believed that (she) intentionally and knowingly inflicted serious injury to (the child).”
Although the mother indicated that the 27-year-old father would not have harmed the child, per arrest documents, he now faces multiple second-degree felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor after CSAM was found on his phone.
“While conducting a separate investigation, a cellular device owned by (the father) was searched for evidence related to that case. During the search, a total of five (5) file(s) containing indisputable evidence of; child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was located within the device,” a court document read.
According to an arrest document, the files contained “visual depictions of computer generated images that depict male and female children naked, engaging in sexual activity with adult males and females.”
Both parents are currently being held without bail at the Weber County Jail. They are scheduled to make their initial appearances in Ogden’s 2nd District Court on Monday.