Barnesville (trfnews.i234.me) — A 26-year-old Barnesville man is accused of assaulting an 8-month-old infant. Prosecutors say video from a baby monitor shows alleged abuse. The case is now filed in Clay County District Court.
Prosecutors have charged Chandler Richard Burnside with two felony counts. One count is third-degree assault of a victim under four. The other is the malicious punishment of a child under four. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The alleged abuse happened just after midnight on September 18 at a home on 3rd Street in Barnesville. Court documents say an Owlet camera in the infant’s room recorded several videos of the incident.
In the first clip, Burnside is seen holding a cloth over the infant’s mouth while pushing a bottle into the infant’s mouth, the complaint states. A second video shows him holding the cloth over the child’s mouth while the baby’s cries are muffled. A third video shows the cloth over the infant’s mouth again while the baby appears to gasp for air, according to the report.
On the morning after the incident, the child’s mother noticed redness around the infant’s mouth. She first thought the baby might have hand, foot, and mouth disease. A doctor’s visit on September 18 found something different. The physician reported swelling around the mouth, bruises on the foot and back of the leg, and marks on the neck. The doctor told investigators the injuries matched what was shown in the videos, according to the complaint.
A follow-up exam on October 13 at Sanford Children’s Care Clinic in Fargo reached a similar conclusion. The medical report said the findings were consistent with physical abuse. Doctors documented bruises on the infant’s mouth, neck, left leg, left foot, and right cheek. They also noted concerning injuries near the left jaw and neck area.
Police learned of the case on September 29, when the child’s mother shared the Owlet recordings with officers. During a later interview with a Barnesville police official, Burnside allegedly admitted he was frustrated because the infant was fussy and would not take a bottle. The complaint says Burnside acknowledged placing the cloth over the baby’s mouth and agreed that his actions were not right.
The mother later confronted Burnside about the videos. According to the complaint, he again admitted his conduct was wrong.
Burnside is being held at the Clay County Jail. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday in Clay County District Court in Moorhead. Court records in Minnesota are public and can be searched online through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Anyone with questions about hand, foot, and mouth disease can find information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials urge parents to talk with a medical provider or contact local authorities if they suspect abuse.
Burnside has not entered a plea. The charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.