Man pleads not guilty to assaulting a toddler
By Terry Murry on Thursday, April 15th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – Juan Manue Rodriguez-Espinoza is being held on $75,000 bail in the assault of a 2-year-old girl. Court records indicate the investigation began in January when a doctor examining the child suspected she had been assaulted.
The girl’s mother had left her daughter with Rodriguez-Espinoza and when she returned, court records indicate the daughter indicated ‘Manny,’ their name for the defendant, had hurt her. The mother noticed redness on her child’s face and said the child asked her to stop while she was changing her diaper.
The hospital examination found two leg fractures. The records were reviewed by the Seattle Children’s Hospital Protection Program determined the facial injury was consistent with abusive blunt force trauma and bruising to the cheek was consistent with a high velocity slap. They further said the leg injuries were the result of a grab and forceful pull of the leg.
Investigators report that when they interviewed the suspect he said he was in the bedroom drinking all night and the children were in the living room. He denied any knowledge of what happened to the toddler.
