Medina gets 22 years for death of daughter

STE. GENEVIEVE – A Washington County man accused of causing the death of his 18-month-old daughter was sentenced to 22 years in prison Tuesday.

Ricardo M. Medina, 23, entered an Alford plea to the Class A felony of abuse of a child resulting in death. By entering an Alford plea, he did not admit to any element of the charge but recognized there was sufficient evidence for trial.

Following the plea agreement worked out by the attorneys, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte sentenced Medina to 22 years in prison. Medina will have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before being considered for parole.

The case was scheduled for a three-day trial next week in Ste. Genevieve on a change of venue from Washington County.

During the plea hearing, Medina’s attorney, District Public Defender Wayne Williams, said a psychologist evaluation found Medina was competent to stand trial but he had a diminished mental capacity at the time of the event. He said Medina decided to go with this plea agreement rather than take a chance with that defense at trial.

Medina’s girlfriend, Jaimee Scott, 24, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. She is accused of failing to report the abuse and failing to remove the child from danger of abuse at the hand of Medina. Her trial is scheduled Nov. 3 in St. Francois County on a change of venue.

After sentencing Medina, Judge Pratte told Medina that he really had nothing to say to him, “except just when I think I’ve seen everything, it gets worse.”

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp said on April 1, 2009, emergency personnel were called to a residence on Bismarck Ridge Road for a 18-month-old child. The child was barely breathing and one pupil was non-reacting.

The girl was taken to Mineral Area Regional Medical Center where it was discovered she had bruises from head to toe in various stages including two bruises on her forehead.

She was then taken to Cardinal Glennon where it was determined she had suffered a high-impact head injury consistent with child abuse. Rupp said the doctors believe that the force was so great that the skull fracture caused brain death. The baby died despite an emergency surgery which included removing a section of the skull to allow swelling.

Rupp said Det. Todd Mahaney interviewed the parents and was initially told the child had been sick. The story then changed to the child fell on step and then that the child bumped her head while riding an ATV.

After the parents were separated, the mother told police she heard the baby crying and she saw Medina mishandling the distressed child. She said she went after him and he began assaulting him. Scott said Medina picked up the child with both hands around the neck and threw the child over his shoulder. The child hit the floor head first.

She said Medina then choked her and when she woke up, the child was limp and Medina was splashing water on the child in an effort to awaken the child.

Rupp said Medina ultimately admitted to police that he threw the child.

Rupp said at trial he would have presented evidence of past abuse of the child and mother and a pattern of inflicting cruel and inhumane punishment. The couple had just moved to Washington County from the state of Washington. Medina had been in the Army Reserve. 

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.