MIFFLINTOWN - A 28-year-old Richfield man who pleaded no contest to several charges stemming from the physical abuse of his infant son was sentenced to a maximum of two years less a day in the Mifflin County Correctional Facility.
Joshua Sheaffer previously pleaded no contest to simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child and terroristic threats.
According to court documents, there were several allegations brought forth by Rebecca Keller, the mother of the infant child, pertaining to the night of June 25, 2010 when she says she brought the child to Shawn Feltman's residence, where she says Sheaffer had been hanging out. Keller was also charged in connection with the abuse. She is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person. She is expected to be admitted into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program, sometime in the near future when she enters a plea.
According to court documents, while at Feltman's, Sheaffer threw a piece of pizza crust at the child, which struck him in the crotch and at one point Sheaffer put the child in a pizza box.
Police said Keller told them that on the drive home, the baby began to fuss and Sheaffer stuck his finger in his mouth to calm him and the child then began to gag.
Police said Keller pulled the car over and used a suction syringe to remove any mucus from the baby's mouth and noticed blood. The child also went limp and his eyes were crossed.
Keller continued to drive home while Sheaffer held the baby in the front passenger seat. Keller said Sheaffer hit the baby's face and upper body, at which point the child let out a high pitched scream, court documents indicate.
Sheaffer then held the child's head near the window of the moving car for a period of 15 seconds, court documents indicate.
Police said Keller was then threatened by Sheaffer who said he would slit the throats of her and the baby if she took the child to the hospital because he would go to jail.
According to court documents, when Sheaffer and Keller arrived back at their house Sheaffer repeated "Just die, just die, I hate you. Just die," and then he continued to threaten Keller and the baby.
An ambulance was called and the baby was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, police said.
Police said Keller also reported that on the night of June 24, 2010, the infant was left with Sheaffer while she went to the grocery store. When Keller returned, Sheaffer allegedly told her to never leave him alone with the child again.
According to court documents, Keller picked up the child, who was shaking and had bruises on his legs.
