Man charged with felony child abuse of 11-month-old

MINDEN - The stepfather of an 11-month-old girl has been charged with felony child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm, accused of swinging her against a crib and fracturing her skull.

Acting East Fork Justice Richard Glasson read the charge against Stephen Joseph Tribon, 27, on Friday.

Tribon, jailed on $25,000 bail, is to appear for another hearing Wednesday.

He told Glasson he was unemployed.

Tribon was jailed Feb. 1 after the baby was hospitalized with a skull fracture, bruises and evidence of a prior broken arm.

As of Friday, she remained hospitalized in stable

condition.

According to reports, Tribon and the baby's mother brought her to the Carson Valley Medical Center at 4:45 a.m. Monday. The examining physician called deputies because he was concerned that the mother had no explanation for the injuries and was inconsistent in explaining what happened.

Initially, the mother said the injuries occurred while the baby was with her father, with whom she shares custody.

According to court documents, Tribon admitted to an investigator that he caused the injury.

He said the baby woke up crying at 2:30 a.m., and he changed her diaper and gave her a bottle.

A little later, Tribon told the officer he picked the baby up by the waist, swung her toward the crib and slammed her head on top of the wooden frame.

He allegedly dropped her in the crib and slammed her right ear into the wooden frame, according to reports.

He told the investigator the baby cried a little.

Tribon reportedly told the investigator he became frustrated "from being under a lot of stress."

Tests indicated the baby had a fractured skull to the right side of her head plus multiple scrapes and bruises behind her right ear, the back of her neck, and a small bruise above her right eyebrow.

Because of the skull fracture, the child was taken by ambulance to Renown Regional Medical Center.

The infant has been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services as has her 5-year-old sister who appeared in good health, according to reports.

If Tribon bails out, he is forbidden to have contact with the baby. He must abstain from alcohol, controlled substances and firearms