Man Gets 20-Year Sentence In Floyd County Child Cruelty Case

A judge sentenced a Floyd County man to serve 20 years in prison on cruelty to children charges Monday.

A jury found 31-year-old Cesar Alejandro Lopez Sr. guilty of aggravated assault and first degree cruelty to children charges. Lopez was acquitted on false imprisonment, third degree cruelty to children and hindering an emergency telephone call in a jury trial last week.

According to prosecutors, Lopez was the sole caregiver for his infant son on the night of Feb. 5 when the child was injured.

Doctors who examined the child testified at the trial that the injuries were consistent with the type of force generated in a car crash. The infant had multiple intracranial hemorrhages — bleeding inside the skull — and multiple broken bones as a result of the beating.

During the sentencing hearing on Monday morning Lopez apologized and acknowledged that he failed his family. He spoke of his state of mind after his father’s suicide and several recent deaths in his family.

However, prosecutors said that when the child’s mother returned home, Lopez attempted to hide the fact that the child was injured.

“He did nothing to help the baby. He didn’t call 9-1-1 to get help,” Assistant Floyd County District Attorney Morgan Bottger said.

Despite the injuries inflicted earlier this year, the baby is doing well and thriving, Bottger said.