Spokane7
65°
October 15, 2010 in City
Suspect in baby’s assault pleads not guilty
A 21-year-old man accused of critically injuring his girlfriend’s 5-month-old son pleaded not guilty today in Whitman County Superior Court.
Nathan J. Cranfield was arraigned on a first-degree assault charge as his alleged victim, Seth Bold, remains in critical condition at a Spokane hospital.
Medics responded to a report of the boy not breathing Monday at 1:47 a.m. at 407 Main Street in Albion, where Cranfield and Sarah Young lived with the infant.
Young told police she and Nathan had been dating and living together “for a few months.” She said Cranfield woke her up telling “because the baby was not breathing,” according to a probable cause affidavit. Young told police the boy’s biological father lives in Minnesota.
The boy was rushed to Pullman Regional Hospital then taken by helicopter to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Cranfield initially denied hurting the boy, but doctors told police the boy had a traumatic head injury that could only be caused by abuse.
Cranfield later said he’d wrapped the boy tightly in a blanket and rocked him hard and rapidly from side to side, according to the affidavit.
“Nathan then told me that after rocking Seth in this manner, he tossed Seth onto the bed to ‘sort his (stuff) out,’” a Whitman County sheriff’s detective wrote.
Cranfield called 911 after he tossed Seth in his crib, heard a wet burp and discovered the boy wasn’t breathing. Investigators say Cranfield hugged Young at the hospital and Pullman and said “I’m so sorry.”
Cranfield is being held at the Whitman County Jail on $250,000 bond.
Human trafficking suspects released 
meghannc on October 15 at 2:05 p.m.
Court documents say he lives in Minnesota. I’ll add that to the article.
Peaches624 on October 15 at 2:40 p.m.
What do you expect … kids having kids isn’t a good thing.
Itsgodswill on October 15 at 2:57 p.m.
At 21, I would not call this young man a KID. These thing’s happen, regardless of age, so age is not the problem. It’s the individuals who are unable to properly care for a child. I don’t understand what is happening lately, this isn’t the first, second, or even third time we’ve had to hear about this as of lately and it’s just as disgusting every time.
liz7315 on October 15 at 3:12 p.m.
These women need to learn that not just any man you meet can be brought around your children much less left alone with them. Get a self esteem and quit looking for a man to take care of you and your children!!! Think about your babies and their safety!
Random_Axis on October 15 at 4:10 p.m.
What is it with all these women and their bad-boy boyfriends? And they let these losers babysit their kids? She is equally guilty as the perp…