East Texas

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

LONGVIEW - Gregg County Sheriff's officials say criminal charges are pending for the parents of a 15-week-old baby with a broken arm.

Lt. Mike Claxton, public information officer, said the baby's parents brought the child to Longview Regional Medical Center for a checkup on Monday, and hospital officials alerted the sheriff's department after they suspected the baby had been abused.

Claxton said the baby appeared to have psoriasis all over its head, an advanced diaper rash, a mouth infection and a broken arm.

Claxton said the department won't release the parents' names until the Gregg County District Attorney's office brings charges against them. He said the father will likely face felony injury charges for the baby's broken arm, and both parents will probably face felony charges for neglect.

The couple has another 24-month-old child, and Claxton said Child Protective Services has intervened on that child's behalf in the past. He said both children had been in the parents' custody until Tuesday, when they were removed by CPS officials.