Father accused of breaking infant's bones

GULFPORT -- Medical examinations of an infant's broken bones indicates her father abused her more than once and her mother failed to report it, according to a Gulfport police investigation.

The baby girl was 41 days old Oct. 22 when a neighbor noticed the infant's leg flopping over as her father changed her diaper, Harrison County prosecuting attorney Herman Cox said Thursday.

The neighbor called 911 and Montreal Deon Johnson left the house, leaving the child's mother to deal with the police and an ambulance crew, Cox said.

Police arrested the mother, 24-year-old Raven Hackwood, that night on a felony charge of contributing to the negligence of a child.

Police arrested Johnson, 25, on a felony child abuse charge Oct. 26.

An affidavit says the baby had a bi-lateral fractured skull, broken leg and several broken ribs. The document alleges Johnson caused the injuries between Sept. 17 and Oct. 22 by squeezing the baby's head and ribs and using physical force to break her leg.

"A medical examination showed some of the broken ribs had started to heal, which means they were older injuries," Cox said.

According to testimony in Johnson's preliminary hearing Wednesday, Hackwood had two black eyes when police questioned her. Hackwood told them she and Johnson had argued the night before, and he had punched her, Cox said.

A police affidavit says Hackwood "wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously" neglected the baby "by knowingly permitting the continuing physical abuse of the child."

Cox said the couple was living together.

The investigation revealed Johnson has two other children by another woman, and one of those children had suffered a broken leg, too, Cox said.

"The Department of Human Services had opened a case file on that child's injury," he said. "But no charges have been filed in that case."

Hackwood has waived the right to a preliminary hearing. Both cases are being sent to a Harrison County grand jury.

Johnson and Hackwood remain incarcerated at the Harrison County jail.

His bond is $250,000 bond.

Her bond is $50,000.

Johnson's charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Hackwood's charge has a maximum prison term of 10 years.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 5:31 PM with the headline "Father accused of breaking infant's bones ."