Brighton man charged in abuse of baby boy

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Photo of baby injured in abuse case from ClickonDetroit.com

Livingston County Prosecutor William Vailliencourt announced that his office has filed felony child abuse charges against 21-year-old Luke Tobia Sementelli of Brighton in the July 15, 2019 incident in which a baby boy was abused. Sementelli is currently in custody in the Livingston County Jail as he awaits arraignment.

Sementelli is charged with one count of second-degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as three counts of third-degree child abuse, each punishable by up to two years in prison.

Sementelli is alleged to have physically assaulted the 14-month-old son of his girlfriend, resulting in serious physical harm, as well as biting the child, resulting in injury.

Police say the incident occurred at a Brighton Cove apartment. The child was reportedly pushed onto the floor three times, causing him to hit his head. He was then alleged to have been “shaken feverishly,” suffering injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

The child was first taken to St. Joseph’s Woodland in Genoa Township, before being transferred to Detroit Children’s Hospital on a ventilator. He is in critical condition and is suffering from seizures.

The investigation is ongoing.

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.