Woonsocket Man Sentenced 15 Years For Assaulting 5-Month-Old Baby

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Woonsocket man was sentenced to 15 years in prison with probation possible after seven years for assaulting a 5-month-old baby in his care.

Kristofer Bernier, 27, of Woonsocket pleaded no contest to both counts of child abuse charges. In addition to his sentence, Bernier was ordered to have no contact with victim.

At about 6:30 p.m., on March 26, 2017, Woonsocket Police received a call from the baby's aunt who said the baby fell off the couch and suffered facial injuries. Bernier had called the aunt prior to her calling the police.

Police said the child had deep cuts on his face and was unresponsive when they arrived. The baby was rushed to Landmark Medical Center and then transferred to Hasbro Children's Hospital.

When initially questioned by police, Bernier, who was babysitting said the baby fell off the couch, but he later admitted he was upset the child was crying and "lost it." Police said he struck the child several times with an open hand, dropped the child on the corner of the coffee table and then on the floor.

The child suffered a fractured skull, intra-retinal hemorrhages (bleeding eye tissue), a subdural hematoma (blood bursting outside of vessels inside his head), and multiple bruises on his head, face and bilateral extremities.

The child spent about two months in the hospital recovering from his injuries.

Woonsocket Police Detectives Jamie Chamberland and Anthony Conetta, Jr., led the investigation and Special Assistants Attorneys General James Smith and Jillian Dubois prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.

Photo via Woonsocket Police Department