Photo via Wikimedia Commons
A 6-year-old boy is hospitalized in critical condition with severe head injuries allegedly inflicted by his father, who is being held on $1 million bail while facing a felony assault charge, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported Monday.
The boy was taken to a hospital and medical personnel called deputies to investigate on March 17, according to the sheriff’s department.
Wendell Travon Martin, 27, also known as Travon Wendell Martin, was arrested the next day and charged last Tuesday with assault on a child likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in the victim becoming comatose due to a brain injury or permanently paralyzed, according to sheriff’s officials and court records.
A sheriff’s spokeswoman said the department could not disclose whether the boy was comatose or paralyzed, but confirmed that his condition remained critical.
Investigators are still trying to determine just when and where the boy was abused, according to sheriff’s officials.
Martin pleaded not guilty to the felony charge and is due at the Torrance courthouse on April 18, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Investigators urged anyone with information on the case to call the Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
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