Infant allegedly beaten in Santa Ana suffers skull fracture, internal injuries; father arrested

Police arrested a man suspected of beating and seriously injuring his 13-day-old son on Monday, Aug. 19.

Jonathan Reyes, 22, denied harming the infant, but made incriminating statements during interviews with investigators, Santa Ana Police officials said in a news release. He was arrested Monday, after his infant son was found suffering from a skull fracture, internal injuries and signs of a beating on his face and body. The child also tested positive for methamphetamine, and was hospitalized in critical condition.

The investigation quickly led detectives to identify Reyes as a suspect, police said. They believe he harmed his son while supposedly caring for the baby while his mother was asleep.

Reyes admitted using methamphetamine, police said. He had been arrested in July on suspicion of a robbery that took place in March, and was free on bail at the time of the alleged child abuse.

Reyes pleaded not guilty to one felony count of child endangerment and abuse, court records show. He was in held at the Orange County Men’s Central jail in lieu of  $170,000 bail as of Wednesday, Aug. 21. A pre-trial hearing on this case was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29.