CLINTON —
A Clinton couple are accused on felony charges of failing to seek medical attention for their infant son earlier this year, leading to massive brain damage and surgery for the now eight-month-old baby.
Rick Bausman, 19, and Mindi Augsburger, 25, parents of 8-month-old Alijah, are accused each of a felony charge of child endangerment resulting in serious injury.
According to a court affidavit, the pair took then-two-month-old Alijah to a Morrison, Ill., doctor’s office on Jan. 20 because the baby was vomiting after feeding. The doctor noted that the infant seemed fussy and advised the couple to bring the child back in a week after providing them with formula samples.
The affidavit states that the couple signed an agreement at the doctor’s office and exchanged text messages with each other about Alijah’s appointment, but failed to bring him back for a follow-up visit. The couple allegedly reported when questioned by authorities that the child had been lethargic after their Jan. 20 visit.
Digital images taken from Augsburger’s camera show Alijah on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26 with an abnormally enlarged head, according to the affidavit.
Augsburger’s parents allegedly visited with the couple and baby on Feb. 6 and noted how big the infant’s head was. The child’s grandfather, Gary Augs-burger, told the couple that the baby needed medical attention, according to the affidavit.
The evening of Feb. 8, Alijah began to suffer from seizures, the affidavit states. Augsburger called her parents and told them she and Bausman were taking the baby to the hospital, according to the affidavit.
The couple’s apartment at 2208 McKinley St. is about a five-minute drive from Mercy North Hospital, but the affidavit alleges the pair delayed taking Alijah to the emergency room for about an hour and 20 minutes.
Alijah was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City after being admitted to Mercy North Hospital. An Iowa City specialist reported the child was suffering from a large chronic subdural hematoma covering the entire brain and cerebellum posteriorly, along with a contusional tear and retinal hemorrhages.
The doctor’s report stated the retinal hemorrhages can be caused by abusive head trauma or by a major accident, such as a child being thrown out of a vehicle or falling a significant distance, according to the affidavit. The doctor determined Alijah’s parents repeatedly failed to seek medical treatment for the infant, knowingly creating a substantial risk to his health, the affidavit states.
Alijah underwent medical procedures that required anesthesia and surgery to repair the serious damage to his brain.
According to the affidavit, the doctor also stated that the child could have avoided permanent damage and injury if the couple had taken him for a follow-up visit so his condition could have been spotted and treated by the Morrison physician.
Both Augsburger and Rick Bausman were being held in the Clinton County Jail on Friday morning on $10,000 bond each. They made initial appearances in court Thursday and Friday.
If convicted of the Class C felony charge of child endangerment, the couple face up to 10 years in prison.
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