Father accused of biting son’s nose off pleads not guilty
Joshua Cooper is shown in this March 13 sheriff's office photo. Cooper pleaded not guilty to biting off his baby son's nose. (AP Photo/Solano County Sheriff's Office)
FAIRFIELD, Calif. » A Northern California man accused of biting off his baby son’s nose has pleaded not guilty.
Solano County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Monica Martinez said Monday afternoon that 18-year-old Joshua Cooper of Fairfield pleaded not guilty to charges of child abuse and aggravated mayhem.
The child-abuse charge carries a penalty of up to 12 years, and the aggravated mayhem charge carries a potential penalty of life in prison.
Martinez said Cooper is being held on $750,000 bail.
Police on Thursday found the month-old boy bleeding from the face in his family’s apartment.
He was listed in stable condition at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland on Monday. Doctors said he suffered a skull fracture and a brain hemorrhage and that one-third of his nose had been severed.
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He was in the custody of Solano County Child Welfare Services.
