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Vincent Zappa (Macomb County Prosecutor”s Office).
A Michigan man faces a lengthy prison sentence for the brutal assault on his girlfriend’s 8-month-old son, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury.
In January, a jury in Macomb County found 26-year-old Vincent Zappa guilty of first-degree child abuse. Subsequently, Macomb Circuit Judge Joseph Toia handed down a sentence of 18 to 30 years imprisonment on Thursday.
The violent incident took place in late October 2024 in Warren, a prominent suburb of Detroit.
On that day, Zappa, who was caring for the infant while his girlfriend was at her job, contacted 911 to report that the baby was behaving unusually, as noted in a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Paramedics arrived promptly and transported the critically injured baby to a nearby hospital. The infant was diagnosed with a serious brain injury, known as an acute subdural hematoma, and medical examinations also revealed extensive bruising on his head, neck, and chest.
In the weeks following his arrest, the defendant was referred for a psychological evaluation for culpability and criminal responsibility at the Center for Forensic Psychology.
Last month, after several years of pretrial wrangling, Zappa went on trial.
During the two-week trial, the state provided evidence the defendant “caused devastating injuries to the child,” prosecutors announced in a follow-up press release earlier this year.
In addition to the brain bleed and the bruising all over his body, the child suffered “more than 100 retinal hemorrhages in both eyes” and was bleeding “from the mouth” due to the abuse inflicted by Zappa.
Several physicians who treated the victim testified about the severity of the trauma inflicted on the infant, as well as the long-term effects such injuries can have on a child, prosecutors said.
On Jan. 16, deliberations began. Jurors returned the next day and found the defendant guilty as charged, according to Macomb Daily.
“I want to recognize the tireless efforts of law enforcement, the medical professionals who provided lifesaving care and testimony, and the jury for ensuring accountability in this case,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement. “My office exists to protect the innocent and to speak for children who cannot speak for themselves. We will relentlessly pursue justice against those who abuse and endanger our most vulnerable members of the community.”
In addition to his prison term, Zappa is prohibited from having any contact with the victim or the victim’s family, according to a courtroom report by Detroit-based NBC affiliate WDIV.
The defendant will also be required to register as an offender under Wyatt’s Law, a Wolverine State database for those convicted of crimes against children.