SHAMOKIN -- A 1-year-old baby boy is in a hospital with serious injuries that police say were the result of child abuse.
Police in Shamokin say that child is fighting for his life. Authorities say his mother's boyfriend admits to being mad over a video game and annoyed by the child's crying. He told police he probably used more force than he should have.
Michael Mason, 22, of Shamokin is accused of severely abusing his girlfriend's 1-year-old child because he was playing a video game and the child would not stop crying.
Police say the child is in critical condition. Investigators say Mason was drunk and annoyed by the child's crying so he tried to quiet the child by throwing him against a wall, dropping him three feet into his play pen, and hurting the boy's genitals.
According to police, the abuse happened inside a house on Grant Street in Shamokin where the family lives.
After Mason noticed the child was limp and not moving, he woke up the boy's grandmother who was sleeping downstairs.
The grandmother took the child to the hospital while Mason went to bed. Mason was later arrested and faces several charges including aggravated assault.
Mothers of young children who live in the area say the situation is hard to believe.
Mary McKimm says her 18-month-old daughter Lyla is her world.
"I can't go a day without her and she can't go a day without me and I'd be lost if anything would ever happen to her."
Newswatch 16 spoke with a domestic violence expert to find out what you should do if you're faced with a similar situation.
"We always tell the kids when we do our school programs, when you think you have no choice, that's the time to use your voice," said transitions education director Heather Shnyder.
Transitions is a domestic violence and sexual assault center that provides services to victims and survivors of crimes. Shnyder says it is hard to tell when people get into new relationships if their significant other is the best fit for their children.
"The best we can do is at the first signs of adversity, make sure that you reach out to the agencies in your area that provide the resources that are there for you and get help from family and friends."
The child is at Geisinger Medical Center near Danville in critical condition.
Michael Mason is at the Montour County jail. Police are investigating whether the abuse was a one-time occurrence or if the child had been hurt before.
