By Mondell Keck | The Brookings Register
BROOKINGS — A man from Brookings will be spending the next 30 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary following his sentencing in a physical abuse case from last fall involving his then-3-month-old daughter.
Bailey D. Melchor, 20, entered guilty pleas to all five counts, each a felony, on Oct. 31 and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Abigail Howard on May 19:
• One count of aggravated battery of an infant: 25 years, with five years suspended. It’s a Class 2 felony in South Dakota law.
• Three counts of aggravated assault: 10 years each, with five years suspended each. The counts are Class 3 felonies in state law.
• One count of abuse or cruelty to a minor under age 7: 10 years, with five years suspended. This, too, is a Class 3 felony in South Dakota.
The sentences for aggravated battery and two of the aggravated assault counts will be served consecutively, with the third aggravated assault and abuse or cruelty to a minor counts served concurrently with the first three counts.
“The investigation into how Mr. Melchor assaulted and abused this infant was truly horrific. We insisted he enter a guilty plea to every injury he inflicted on the infant victim,” Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson told The Brookings Register. “I think the judge’s judgment of 30 years in prison reflects the violent (nature) and seriousness of his conduct.”
Nelson noted that, because of a change in the law, Melchor will not be eligible for parole prior to serving the 30-year sentence.
“We hope and pray for the victim’s continued recovery,” Nelson added. “These types of cases require tireless work and dedication, so I appreciate law enforcement’s effort and my staff and their focus and commitment to ensuring justice was pursued.”
Melchor came to the attention of the Brookings Police Department on Oct. 14 when officers responded to the emergency room at Brookings Health System for a report of a baby girl with broken ribs, internal bleeding and a possible brain bleed, according to information in a probable cause statement.
In the statement, Melchor told the BPD that he had anger issues, and that he took them out on his daughter on Oct. 12 because she was being fussy.
“Melchor admitted to picking up the baby and throwing the baby on the bed,” according to the statement. “Melchor stated he then choked the baby until the baby’s face turned purple.”
The statement also detailed a prior history of abuse: Melchor told the BPD that, in earlier acts, he had squeezed his daughter’s mid-section hard enough that he heard a “popping noise” and slapped her across the face.
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
Leave a Reply