Wisc. Prosecutors: Babysitter videotaped abusing infant

WAUSAU, Wis. — Prosecutors in central Wisconsin say they have videotaped evidence of a babysitter beating a 4-month-old boy.

Nineteen-year-old Jennifer Cronin, of Rothschild, is facing felony child abuse charges. A criminal complaint filed in Marathon County says the infant’s father installed a secret video camera because he was concerned that Cronin wasn’t carefully watching his children after the baby’s 2-year-old brother fell down some steps.

After reviewing some of the videotape the parents called police. The complaint says Cronin repeatedly struck the baby in the head and face while the infant was in a swing. It says Cronin grabbed the boy’s wrist and violently yanked him from the floor into the air.

Defense attorney Richard Lawson tells the Wausau Daily Herald the allegations are to “totally out of character” for Cronin.