Tyler C. Abair, seated at table, looks on as defense attorney Bob Schroeter represents him during a bail hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $250,000 today for the Chehalis area father accused of shaking his 4-month-old daughter, causing a bruised brain.
Tyler C. Abair, 23, was arrested yesterday following an investigation that began after last month’s incident at the Koontz Road home he shares with his ex-wife with whom he is reconciling and their twins, a boy and the girl.
The infant is recovering at home with her mother and Abair remains in the Lewis County Jail, where he is serving time for identity theft and second-degree theft, according to authorities.
A doctor found signs of retinal hemorrhaging and a subdural hematoma in her brain at Marybridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, where the baby was transported after the April 13 call to 911, according to charging documents.
The doctor said the baby “exhibited classic signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome and while not severe, the child would have been shaken somewhat violently to cause these injuries,” charging documents state.
Abair acknowledged that he shook her.
According to charging documents, Abair told a detective he was trying to bring her back because she had a “dead look” about her after choking on formula; that he was terrified and may have had a little anger in him when his daughter threw up on him.
He told Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective Jamey McGinty he didn’t know CPR.
Abair was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree assault of a child.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Mark McClain told a judge this afternoon the offense carries significant potential sentence of 10 to 15 years when he appealed for the high bail.
Judge James Lawler signed an order prohibiting him from contact with any witnesses, his ex-wife, his daughter and any children.
Abair doesn’t work, but stayed home and took care of the twins while his ex-wife worked; he qualified for a court-appointed attorney.
His arraignment was scheduled for May 15.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I see dad has an identity theft as well as another theft charge on his jail info sheet.